Overview

• In roughly 36 Stichwahlen on 28 September, voters will settle top municipal offices after a fragmented first round that saw the CDU at 33.3%, SPD 22.1%, AfD 14.5% and Greens 13.5%.
• In Cologne, Green candidate Berivan Aymaz led with 28.1% and is vying to become the first Green mayor of a German million-city.
• AfD candidates are in high-profile runoffs: Duisburg pits incumbent Sören Link (SPD) against Carsten Groß (AfD), Gelsenkirchen features Andrea Henze (SPD) versus Norbert Emmerich (AfD), and Hagen matches Dennis Rehbein (CDU, 25.1% first round) against Michael Eiche (AfD, 21.2%).
• SPD and CDU say they will back each other in second rounds to prevent AfD victories, according to Reuters.
• WDR will provide live coverage and results from 18:00 after polls close, with continuous updates through the evening.