Agus Machfud Fauzi, Novi Fitia Maliha, Pambudi Handoyo, Eufrasia Kartika Hanindraputri, Suyatno Ladiqi
This study examines the contrasting electoral outcomes of the 2024 regional elections in Mojokerto and Jombang, two santri-dominated districts in East Java, Indonesia. In Mojokerto, Gus Al-Barra, the son of a prominent kiai, won the election, while in Jombang, Bu Nyai Munjidah, the daughter of a renowned kiai, was defeated. This study employs a comparative approach to investigate how religious authority, patronage networks, and the political agency of santri communities interact to shape electoral trajectories. The analysis reveals that genealogical charisma alone does not guarantee electoral success; its effectiveness depends on its translation into sustained organizational work, credible alliances, and engagement with pesantren public. In Mojokerto, Gus Al-Barra's victory was enabled by converting his father's symbolic legitimacy into effective mobilization through patronage brokerage, pesantren network consolidation, and strategic deployment of charisma. In contrast, Bu Nyai Munjidah's defeat in Jombang was linked to fragmented pesantren support, weakened patronage linkages, and the impact of gender expectations on leadership evaluation. This study contributes to the scholarship on religious politics and clientelism by demonstrating how the political influence of traditional religious elites is reconfigured through hybrid networks that combine moral authority, electoral pragmatism, and patronage-based mobilization. It also highlights the agency of santri voters, who evaluate candidates based on patronage access, leadership credibility, and perceived consistency with campaign promises rather than simply following religious cues. The findings underscore the importance of local democratic arrangements that improve accountability, protect fair competition, and widen substantive representation, especially for women, while strengthening critical participation among Santri communities. © 2025 by the authors. blication under the terms.
Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia; Universitas Islam Negeri Kiai Ageng Muhammad Besari Ponorogo, Indonesia; Universitas Sultan Zainal Abidin, Trengganu, Malaysia
