Competition between political parties and their regional allies has flared as Iraq’s oil-rich Kirkuk Governorate prepares for the upcoming Oct. 10 parliamentary elections. Under changes approved by lawmakers late last year, Kirkuk was divided into three electoral districts essentially divided between Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs. Parties from each community are now rallying their constituencies and also maneuvering to garner support from regional actors.

Kirkuk Governorate is allocated 12 seats in Iraq’s 329-member parliament—plus a dedicated seat for the Christian minority. 3 of the 12 seats are reserved for women, who must make up a quarter of MPs under Iraqi law. In the previous 2018 parliamentary elections, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) won 6 seats, with Arab and Turkmen factions winning 3 seats each...