Overview

• AfD contenders reached mayoral runoffs in Gelsenkirchen, Duisburg and Hagen, facing Andrea Henze (SPD), Sören Link (SPD) and Dennis Rehbein (CDU) respectively.
• Turnout in the AfD-contested cities was comparatively high by mid‑afternoon, with Gelsenkirchen at about 38.34% at 14:30 and Duisburg at about 35.03% at 14:00, while cities like Bochum reported lower in-person participation.
• SPD and CDU leaders signaled mutual support in select races to block AfD victories, including CDU calls for backing SPD incumbent Sören Link in Duisburg.
• The first round left many races unresolved and showed a shifting landscape, with the CDU at roughly 33.3% statewide and the AfD nearly tripling its 2020 result.
• Runoffs strained local administrations through costs and irregularities, with Essen estimating around €550,000 for the second round and reports of postal delays, ballot errors and a shooting at Troisdorf candidate Alexander Biber’s home.