This study aims to: (i) Describe the political behavior of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to support Governor and Vice Governor candidate (ii) Describe the forms of political participation in the Islamic Defenders Front and (iii) Analyzing the factors that influence the forms of participation of the Islamic Defenders Front in the General Election, especially in the General Election of the Governor and Vice Governor of North Sumatra in 2018.The type of research used is descriptive with a qualitative approach. The research location is the Regional Islamic Defenders Front Council of Medan City. The informants consisted of key informants namely the board members and members of the Medan FPI DPW and the main informants were Ulama and community leaders. The primary data collection technique is done by observation and interviews and secondary data through library research and documentation. Data analysis techniques are used through stages: data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and data verification then conclusions.Political behaviors of FPI based on Al-Qur’an and Sunnah (Hadits) for the interests of the Islamic ummah outlined by the command of the Central Leadership Council or FPI High Priest, namely Muslims (both Governor and Vice Governor), namely candidate No. 1 Edy Rahmayadi and Musa Rajekshah caused by differences in Aqidah with other contestant. The forms of participation of, especially in the General Election of the Governor and Vice Governor of North Sumatra in 2018 as namely: Conventional Forms, among others: (a) Voting, (b) Group Discussion, in the form of da’wah, (c) Campaign Activities, namely mobilizing the ummah and the use of social media (d) Forming and joining groups in winning teams, (e) Individual Communication with Political officials: together with leaders of political parties, (f) Submission of petitions: chain messages disseminated in a structured and massive manner. While the form of non-conventional participation, the FPI anticipated persecution of lecturers and arrested money politics spouses. Factors that influence the participation of the Islamic Defenders Front in the General Elections, especially in the General Election of the Governor and Vice Governor of North Sumatra in 2018, consist of: (i) There is enthusiasm (ghirah) to get Allah’s blesssings (ii) suitability the Candidate (Edy Rahmayadi-Musa Rajekshah) with ideology (iii) obedience with FPI High leader (iv) compliance of Ammar Ma’ruf and Nahi Munkar philosophy.
Keywords: political behavior; Islamic Defenders Front; general election of governor and vice governor
