Overview

• The deaths — four candidates and two reserves — occurred within roughly two weeks before the 14 September local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia.
• Police say there is no evidence of foul play and most causes have been identified, including at least one suicide and several cases linked to illness.
• Election officials have reprinted ballots and said some postal votes must be recast or invalidated due to changes on party lists.
• AfD figures and allied commentators have described the cluster as statistically striking, with attention amplified by Alice Weidel’s reposts and Elon Musk’s reactions on X.
• Authorities note that candidates from other parties also died during the campaign, and with more than 20,000 contenders statewide, polls suggest AfD will trail the major parties.