Nishihara, Okinawa held a mayoral election on September 7, 2008. Incumbent mayor Seiyu Tarakaki, supported by Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito Party, was narrowly defeated by the progressive candidate Akira Uema, supported by all centre, centre-left and left parties.

• Results from JanJan (in Japanese)
• Akahata english edition coverage^{[permanent dead link]}