Hamm votes: SPD candidate Herter triumphs in local elections!

Hamm votes: SPD candidate Herter triumphs in local elections!

Yesterday, Sunday, September 14, 2025, the local elections took place in Hamm, which could not only shape the city administration, but also the political situation throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. Around 134,000 people who were eligible to vote stood in front of the ballot box and were able to cast their votes on up to five ballot papers. The polling stations were open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and counting of votes began immediately after the polls closed.

The live stream from the Hamm town hall, moderated by Rainer Wilkes von Lippewelle and Michael Knippenkötter from the Westfälischer Anzeiger, started at 6 p.m. The first extrapolation results and reactions from the town hall were presented here. While many citizens waited eagerly for the results to be announced, the reporting on the Lippewelle app and on the radio was also well attended, which illustrated the great interest in this election.

A look at the candidates

In Hamm, Marc Herter from the SPD stood as mayoral candidate and was very confident before the election. He emphasized how important it is to make the city family-friendly and to consolidate the economic revival. According to initial projections, Herter can look forward to a surprising success: he received over 60 percent of the votes. His competitor Arnd Hillwig from the CDU congratulated him and described the election as a “bitter defeat” for his party. Herter has already announced that he will enter into discussions with all democratic parties in the council in order to achieve a stable majority.

The elections in North Rhine-Westphalia are also an important assessment of the situation for the major parties in the state. Political scientist Prof. Stefan Marschall points out that this election is the first since the federal election where a significant portion of the eligible population can cast their vote. This could cause some surprises.

Important topics of the election

Voters in North Rhine-Westphalia had the opportunity to elect not only the mayor, but also the city council, the district councils and the integration council. The local elections are considered the first test of sentiment in the region after the federal election and are characterized by important issues such as affordable housing, improving infrastructure and the conditions in schools and daycare centers. The expansion of the cycle path network and the fight against social injustice were also discussed.

The results of the election and the political tendencies in the Ruhr area are of great importance for all parties. The Social Democrats no longer have a structural majority in North Rhine-Westphalia and will do everything they can to maintain their influence in Hamm and the neighboring cities.

For anyone looking for more information about the local elections in Hamm, the Lippewelle Hamm-O-Mat offers exciting insights into the programs of the candidate parties. This election was not only a local matter, but also reflects the diverse political landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is of great relevance in the run-up to the upcoming elections in 2025.