Overview

• In official tallies, the AfD finished first in Paderborn with 24.5% and in Detmold with 27.9%, placed a close second in Bottrop with 26.2%, and ranked second in Essen with 17.67% behind the CDU list at 18.48%.
• Turnout was sparse, with participation at 20.2% in Paderborn, 17.9% in Duisburg, and 15.2% in Essen, increasing the influence of motivated voting blocs.
• A DeZIM study cited in the coverage finds elevated openness to the AfD among people with ties to the former Soviet Union, with 29% saying they could imagine voting for the party.
• In Paderborn and Detmold, major parties did not present their own lists, leaving the field to the AfD and local or nationality-based groups and facilitating the AfD’s gains.
• In Duisburg the SPD remained the strongest force with 24.2%, and the city forwarded allegations of possible vote manipulation involving the DAL‑WGD list to police for review.