Overview
- City figures show Gerrit Derkowski at 28.7%, Samet Yilmaz at 24.8%, and SPD’s Ulf Daude at 23.3% in the first round.
- A head-to-head runoff is scheduled for December 7 between CDU/FDP-backed Derkowski and the Greens’ Yilmaz.
- Turnout reached 48.7% of 190,779 eligible voters, up from 37.9% in 2019.
- Daude’s third-place finish ends the SPD’s 16-year run holding the mayor’s office.
- The winner will take office in April 2026 as incumbent Ulf Kämpfer departs for state politics.