Social Democrat Andrea Henze has been elected as the new mayor of Gelsenkirchen, defeating AfD candidate Norbert Emmerich in Sunday's runoff election. The 49-year-old SPD politician secured 66.9 percent of the vote compared to Emmerich's 33.1 percent, according to final results. Henze succeeds longtime SPD mayor Karin Welge, who did not seek reelection after completing her term.
The runoff election marked the culmination of a closely watched contest in this traditional SPD stronghold in Germany's Ruhr region. In the first round of voting on September 14, Henze had received 37.04 percent of votes while Emmerich captured 29.75 percent, forcing the Sunday runoff since neither candidate achieved the required absolute majority. The narrow margin in the initial round—just 7.2 percentage points separating the candidates—had heightened concerns among established parties about the AfD's growing influence in western Germany.
Gelsenkirchen's political significance extends beyond local governance, serving as a barometer for the AfD's expansion beyond its traditional eastern German base. The city, long considered a Social Democratic heartland, has witnessed the right-wing party's steady growth—from single-digit results in the 2020 local elections to capturing one in four votes during the February 2025 federal election. The runoff attracted national attention as established parties coordinated to prevent AfD victories, with CDU leaders urging their supporters to back SPD candidates in several Ruhr cities.
The election outcome provides some relief to Germany's governing coalition amid Gelsenkirchen's challenging economic landscape. The city suffers from severe structural problems and records Germany's highest unemployment rate. Despite Henze's decisive victory in the mayoral race, the AfD achieved one of its strongest local results statewide in the city council election two weeks earlier, finishing just behind the SPD. Both parties will now have equal representation in the new city council, ensuring continued political tension in this industrial city's governance.
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