The North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) local elections on September 14, 2025, were closely watched across Germany. With 13.7 million eligible voters, citizens in the state’s 427 municipalities, including 396 cities and towns and 31 districts, voted for city councils, district councils, regional assemblies, and mayors.
These elections were the first major political test since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office and were widely seen as a measure of public support for the governing CDU/CSU–SPD coalition. Observers also paid particular attention to the performance of the right-wing AfD, which has made significant gains nationally in 2025.
The preliminary results released by the NRW State Electoral Commissioner show that the CDU remained the strongest party, with Minister-President Hendrik Wüst’s party receiving 33.3% of the votes, a slight decrease of 1.0 percentage point compared to the previous local elections in 2020.
The SPD came in second with 22.1%, losing 2.2 points from 2020, while the Greens experienced a sharp decline, falling 6.5 points to 13.5%. The AfD made significant gains, increasing 9.4 points to 14.5%, marking its strongest performance in NRW local elections to date.
Other parties recorded smaller shifts: The Left (Die Linke) rose by 1.8 points to 5.6%, the FDP fell to 3.7%, and the BSW received 1.1%.
The elections also determined several key mayoral and local leadership positions, including in major cities such as Cologne and Düsseldorf. Because no candidate achieved an absolute majority in several contests, runoff elections are scheduled for September 28, 2025.
These runoff elections are expected to be decisive in determining the control of key municipalities and will indicate trends for future state and federal elections.
Following the results, CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann described the outcome as a confirmation of the party’s dominance at the municipal level. He stated: “We are the municipal party number one. Politics at the local level is immediate and close to people. We must address the problems directly and ensure citizens feel safe.”
Linnemann emphasized the CDU’s continued lead over the AfD, which is less than half the size of the CDU in NRW. He also highlighted the party’s achievements in reducing illegal migration and addressing citizen concerns about safety. In addition, CDU Secretary General Paul Ziemiak noted that the strong performance of the AfD reflects the need for parties to address social challenges, particularly in areas affected by poverty and migration from Eastern Europe.
SPD state leader Achim Post expressed disappointment at the party’s result, stating: “This is a poor result for the SPD and for the democratic center. We must work to reduce the AfD’s influence.” He highlighted the importance of addressing citizens’ problems effectively at both federal and state levels, noting that the NRW results should serve as a lesson to improve governance.
SPD Secretary General Tim Klüssendorf also commented, noting that the weak NRW performance does not have direct implications for the federal coalition. He emphasized the importance of focusing on policy implementation and ensuring that funds from the special federal budget reach local projects without bureaucratic obstacles.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
