Rykov conceded defeat at a session of the Supreme Soviet
Fyodor Rykov, the popular naval captain and often-seen face of the government, conceded defeat to his fellow candidate Nikolai Kirov after a final tally of votes was confirmed by ballot-takers. After a long and dramatic election session which saw the pool of candidates slowly dwindle, the resulting two-way race pitted to public favorites against each other. But despite the public image Rykov portrayed, it was Kirov who eventually garnered the support of the people. The official result of ballots was at 69% for Kirov to 31% for Rykov. The results showed how popular both men were with the public, but that Rykov had fared much worse than initially expected. Analysts had originally expected Rykov to become the favorite, especially given the resignation by Volkova, who until recently had a clear majority in the polls. Some had even suggested that Rykov and Volkova would pair up, with him accepting a position as Vice-Secretary should she win the election. When the opportunity came for Rykov to ramp up his bid for the election - in particular at Volkova's resignation - instead his campaign seemed to falter, unsure what steps to take next. This mishap cost Rykov dearly in the polls, and was quickly supplanted by an aggressive campaign by Kirov, who returned from the frontlines in the south just in time to begin a tour of the country.
Kirov being escorted by fellow soldiers to his victory ceremony
A favorite among soldiers and generally seen as the underdog, Kirov had spent most of his campaign on the front in the newly-acquired southern territories. But his willingness to roll up his sleeves and get dirty with even the lowliest private quickly made him a popular figure. Here, people said, was a man who was willing to do whatever work was needed so that the job could get done. Kirov's cordial and friendly attitude also garnered him support. The public was much more willing to approach and support a friendly, jovial figure. Rykov, on the other hand, was seen as a stern naval officer, despite both candidates being military men. With matters settling down in the new territories Kirov was able to launch an aggressive campaign for support. Making a ground tour of Mishalan's major cities Kirov was seen on the ground at rallies, eagerly greeting and shaking hands with people. His down-to-earth attitude allowed his ratings to soar above those of Rykov, and the eventual results gave him a significant lead over his rival. In the end Kirov won by the sheer will of the people. In taking a brief break from work to attend to ceremonies in Mishagrad, Kirov was asked if he would take some time off to become accustomed to his new role, to which he answered: "Of course not, there is much work to be done!" And to be honest, we didn't expect anything different.