Like in previous elections, public attention has been focused on candidates with links to political families or the elite.
Besides Gibran, the president’s son-in-law Bobby Afif Nasution was also a mayoral candidate in Medan and unofficial tallies showed him as a front runner there.
Their candidacies had stirred speculation that Mr. Joko was trying to build a political dynasty, but as early as December last year, the President, or Jokowi as he is known, had denied his involvement.
“It’s up to the people to decide. Everyone has the right to vote or be voted for,” said Mr. Joko, who started his political career as mayor of his home town Solo from 2005 to 2012, before getting elected as Jakarta governor in 2012 and president in 2014.
Solo resident Agung Wibowo, 45, said he voted for Mr. Gibran as he believed the culinary entrepreneur would be “dynamic, innovative and forward-looking”.
He added, “We need broad-minded leaders, young people who can come up with new ideas to keep up with the times.”
Other well-connected candidates included Vice-President Ma’ruf Amin’s daughter Siti Nur Azizah and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto’s niece Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo.
