NRW local elections 2025: Who is fighting for power in your city?

NRW local elections 2025: Who is fighting for power in your city?

In the exciting lead time to Local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on September 14, 2025 In Cologne, special attention is being paid to the successor to the previous mayor Henriette Reker, who will no longer be running. Various candidates from different political camps are vying for the voters' favor, while citizen surveys show critical voices about Reker's administration.

The main candidates have already been determined: Berivan Aymaz from the Greens, Torsten Burmester from the SPD and Markus Greitemann from the CDU. In the midst of this exciting constellation, the question arises as to how strongly the political landscape is influenced by the AfD and who can ultimately win the coveted mandates in a city where the challenges and opportunities for change are tangible.

Candidates at a glance

A look at the other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia shows that the local elections are not only important in Cologne. In Bielefeld, Ingo Nürnberger (SPD) is running as the successor to incumbent Peter Clausen, while in Bochum Jörg Lukat (SPD) is running as the joint red-green candidate. Duisburg is under the banner of Sören Link (SPD), who is running again, while the AfD has shown increasing relevance in the city.

• Bielefeld: Ingo Nürnberger (SPD), Christiana Bauer (CDU), Dominic Hallau (Grüne)
• Bochum: Jörg Lukat (Rot-Grün), Andreas Bracke (CDU)
• Dortmund: Thomas Westphal (SPD) gegen Alexander Omar Kalouti (CDU) und Katrin Lögering (Grüne)
• Düsseldorf: Stephan Keller (CDU) strebt Wiederwahl an
• Duisburg: Sören Link (SPD) führt die Wahl an
• Köln: Berivan Aymaz (Grüne), Torsten Burmester (SPD), Markus Greitemann (CDU)

Importance of choice

With around 13.7 million citizens able to cast their votes, the election will literally be a big one. Above all, the question arises as to how well the Greens can hold their positions and whether the CDU can achieve the hoped-for gains. Voters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the positions of the various candidates and to actively participate in this process.

The upcoming local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia will not only be a test for the established parties, but also for the AfD, which wants to gain ground, particularly in the Ruhr area. The outcome of this election could have a lasting impact on the political landscape in many cities, which is why it is crucial to hear citizens' voices and fill the ballot boxes well.

In addition, accessibility in digital communication is also an important topic that should not be forgotten. To ensure the rights and opportunities for all people - including those with disabilities - all online services of municipalities and public institutions must comply with the RGAA Rules.

So let’s talk and use our voices! Because as the daily Bing homepage quiz shows, in politics it is essential to be informed and make the best decisions. Here you can learn new things in a playful way and deal with important topics in an entertaining way.