Overview

• AfD candidates advanced to mayoral runoffs in three western NRW cities, a notable breakthrough in Gelsenkirchen, Hagen and Duisburg.
• In Hagen, CDU’s Dennis Rehbein (25.08%) faces AfD’s Michael Eiche (21.21%) on 28 September, a gap of roughly four points that signals a close contest.
• In Duisburg, SPD incumbent Sören Link enters the runoff as the favorite after taking 45.97% in the first round, outpacing AfD’s Carsten Groß at 19.71%; resident interviews describe anger, insecurity and a desire for change.
• AfD momentum in Hagen extends beyond the mayoral race, with the party capturing 22.41% in the city council vote, more than double its previous result.
• Media framings diverge, with RP ONLINE presenting Duisburg as an SPD success while other outlets emphasize pending runoffs and tight margins.