Tokyo DispatchJapan, in EnglishShoko Kawada, 36, took eight weeks off before and after giving birth, with her deputy covering her duties. She says she wants to show that a mayor can combine the job with raising a child.
Kyodo's two-day phone poll puts former MP Shinji Inatomi slightly ahead, with five candidates bunched behind and more than 30% of voters undecided.
A lawyer backed by four parties' local organizations won the election to replace a mayor found to have abused staff. The case exposed how little local institutions can do to stop a mayor who oversteps.
