Local elections 2025: Who will be the new mayor of Oberhausen?

Local elections 2025: Who will be the new mayor of Oberhausen?

Things will get exciting in North Rhine-Westphalia on September 14, 2025, because the local elections are just around the corner. There is a lot of interest, especially in Oberhausen, where citizens can elect not only their district representatives, but also the new mayor. This is an opportunity to address the more than 150,000 citizens who are eligible to vote, especially because 16 and 17 year olds are also allowed to cast their votes for the first time. Polling stations open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the first forecasts can be expected immediately after the polls close. The first projections will be presented from around 6.30 p.m., although delays are possible due to the high number of postal voters.

A total of six candidates are running for the mayoral election in Oberhausen. Above all, the incumbent mayor Daniel Schranz from the CDU, who has been in office since 2015. Thorsten Berg (SPD), Yusuf Karaçelik (Die Linke), Wolfgang Kempkes (AfD), Rolf Ludwig (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance) and Marc Hoff (FDP) are on the ballot with him. To win the mayoralty, a candidate needs at least 50 percent of the vote. If this fails, a runoff election will be scheduled for September 28th, reports calf.

Candidate profile

The candidates each bring different focuses and backgrounds. Daniel Schranz (CDU, 50) focuses on economic development and digitalization. In contrast, Thorsten Berg (SPD, 55) focuses on social justice and educational opportunities. The social worker Yusuf Karaçelik (Die Linke, 51) also has social justice and environmental protection on his agenda. Wolfgang Kempkes (AfD, 60), a business economist, focuses on household renovation and security. Marc Hoff (FDP) emphasizes education and mobility, while Rolf Ludwig (BSW, 48), a qualified mathematician, promotes citizen participation. It is interesting that the Greens and the Citizens' Action for Oberhausen (BOB) have not put forward their own candidate for mayor derwesten.de reported.

Elections at a glance

The local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia are of course not just limited to Oberhausen. City and local councils, district councils and mayors are elected throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. In the last local elections in 2020, the CDU was ahead in Oberhausen with 32.8 percent, followed by the SPD with 31.6 percent and the Greens with 14.4 percent. Information on voter turnout shows that it was 51.9 percent in 2020, and a fifth of those eligible to vote in Germany will be called to the polls in September zdf.de summarizes.

An important election issue will be affordable housing, as well as the discussion about improving infrastructure and improving social justice. Political scientists see dissatisfaction with the federal government as a factor influencing electoral decisions. The Ruhr area, once a stronghold of the SPD, has lost its structural majority in many cities, making the election even more interesting. These could be deciding factors for voters who cast their ballots on September 14th.