A total of ten candidates registered to contest the elections.[4] Incumbent President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ran for a second term in office.[5] Vice-President Saulos Chilima also contested the election as the United Transformation Movement (UTM) candidate, having left the DPP in 2018.[6] The other candidates included Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party) and Atupele Muluzi (United Democratic Front).