Overview

• The Greens have multiple contenders in key cities, including Berivan Aymaz in Cologne, Clara Gerlach in Düsseldorf and incumbent Katja Dörner in Bonn, as they campaign on curbing rent hikes and demand a state Umwandlungsverordnung to restrict conversions of rentals into condominiums.
• SPD state leader Sarah Philipp questions the Greens’ late-stage push on housing regulation, calling the demand less credible so close to the vote.
• In Cologne, CDU candidate Markus Greitemann, eliminated after round one, has endorsed SPD nominee Torsten Burmester in a bid to block a Green victory that could make Aymaz the first Green and first mayor with a migrant background of a German million‑city.
• AfD candidates reached runoffs in Gelsenkirchen, Hagen and Duisburg, and CDU and SPD leaders say they will cooperate where needed to prevent AfD wins.
• Dortmund’s race is rated a dead heat between SPD incumbent Thomas Westphal and CDU challenger Alexander Kalouti, with a local poll showing 50:50 and a third‑place candidate urging his backers to support the CDU.