Wiesbaden Mayoral Race Heads to Runoff Between Mende and von Debschitz

Incumbent Gert-Uwe Mende leads the first round with 37.7% of the vote, facing independent challenger Thilo von Debschitz, who secured 30.1%, in a March 30 runoff.

The first round of the Wiesbaden mayoral election concluded without any candidate securing a majority, necessitating a runoff between Gert-Uwe Mende (SPD) and Thilo von Debschitz (independent).
Mende, the current mayor seeking a second term, received 37.7% of the vote, while von Debschitz, supported by the CDU and FDP, garnered 30.1%.
Green Party candidate Gesine Bonnet, the only woman among ten candidates, placed third with 14.6%, falling short of the runoff.
Voter turnout was 43.27%, lower than the 53.5% turnout in 2019 but higher than the runoff turnout from six years ago.
The runoff election, scheduled for March 30, will determine the next mayor of Wiesbaden, with key campaign issues including traffic management, public safety, and housing development.