Wiesbaden's local elections reveal shifting voter loyalties and record turnout

A divided city elects new leaders—some districts back tradition, others embrace change. Why did Sonnenberg's voters turn out in record numbers?

, and Administrator

2026 March 16 . 11:07 PM

1 min read

The image shows a map of the state of Haryana in 2014, with different colors representing the... — The image shows a map of the state of Haryana in 2014, with different colors representing the legislative assembly elections. The text on the map provides further details about the election results.

Wiesbaden's local elections reveal shifting voter loyalties and record turnout

Wiesbaden's latest local elections have shown clear shifts in voter support across different districts. The CDU dominated in several areas, while the Greens and SPD made strong gains in others. Turnout rose significantly compared to the last vote in 2021.

The CDU led in many parts of the city, particularly in Sonnenberg, where it secured 46.6 percent of the vote. Stefan Bauer topped the CDU list there with 3,429 personal votes, followed by Michael Hofmeister and Dr. Arno Grau. The district also saw a high turnout of 70.6 percent—well above the citywide average of 48.1 percent.

In Sonnenberg, the Greens narrowly beat the SPD, taking 19.1 percent of the vote compared to 18.2 percent. The FDP also performed strongly, earning 15.1 percent, with Alexander Winkelmann receiving the most personal votes at 749. Meanwhile, the Free Voters gained just 1.0 percent. Out of 29,336 valid ballots counted, about 3.6 percent were rejected as invalid. Beyond Sonnenberg, the Greens outperformed the CDU in inner-city districts like Westend/Bleichstraße and Mitte. The SPD did particularly well in Klarenthal and Amöneburg, while the CDU remained dominant in Naurod.

The election results highlight varying political strengths across Wiesbaden's districts. Turnout increased by 8 percent since 2021, reaching 48.1 percent citywide. The CDU's stronghold in Sonnenberg contrasts with gains by the Greens and SPD in other areas.