Marat Kambolov holds a commanding position in the South Ossetia presidential election scheduled for September 18, 2026, driven by his role as acting president since June 2026, unified endorsements from major parliamentary parties including Nykhas, United Ossetia, and the Communist Party, and public support from Russian President Vladimir Putin. His appointment followed the resignation of Alan Gagloev under a new integration treaty with Russia that eased residency rules for candidates, enabling Kambolov—a North Ossetian official with strong Moscow ties—to lead as interim head while advancing anti-corruption and infrastructure priorities. Registered opponents such as Kazbek Kodoyev, Zurab Kokoyev, and Murat Valiyev remain limited in visibility and resources, with analysts viewing them as non-competitive. A late disruption such as a health event, major scandal, or unexpected legal barrier to his candidacy could still alter outcomes in the narrow pre-election window, though current political alignments point to a decisive first-round result.