In the Thuringian district and mayoral elections, the AfD has little chance of winning district offices and town halls in the first round, according to interim results. However, there are upcoming runoff elections with AfD participation in several regions, giving the far-right party a chance to secure top municipal positions. In areas such as Eichsfeld, Wartburgkreis, Sömmerda, Saale-Holzland-Kreis, and Greiz, CDU candidates were narrowly ahead after counting more than half of the votes. In the Altenburger Land in East Thuringia, AfD candidate Heiko Philipp narrowly beat incumbent Uwe Melzer (CDU). These local elections serve as a first test of public sentiment ahead of the State Parliamentary elections on September 1st. Runoff elections are scheduled for June 9th, coinciding with the European elections.
The CDU is experiencing successes in several cities. In Altenburg, incumbent CDU mayor André Neumann was re-elected, while in Suhl in South Thuringia and the city of Weimar, CDU candidates André Knapp and Peter Kleine (independent) were on track for election victories. Thirteen districts voted for district administrators, of which the CDU held eight previously. Some long-serving CDU incumbents, including Germany’s longest-serving district administrators in Eichsfeld and Greiz, did not run for re-election. In 2023, the first AfD district administrator in Germany was elected in Sonneberg. However, the party, classified as far-right extremist by the Thuringian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution, failed to win further municipal elections in Thuringia in the runoff.
Around 1.74 million people in Thuringia also voted on Sunday for mayors and mayors in 94 cities, as well as candidates for 17 district parliaments and more than 600 city and municipal councils. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds were also eligible to vote. Runoff elections are expected for several district administrators and mayors. The first results show that in most cases, the incumbent CDU and independent candidates are leading. In some areas, such as Erfurt, Mühlhausen, and Ilmenau, the current officeholders are maintaining their positions, while in others, a runoff will be needed to determine the winner.
In some regions, the AfD has managed to secure a spot in the runoff elections, indicating growing support for the party. In Sonneberg, the AfD led in the district council election with 36.6% of the votes, followed by the CDU with 22.1%. In Erfurt, the long-standing SPD mayor Andreas Bausewein will have to compete in a runoff election against the CDU challenger Andreas Horn. Similarly, in Mühlhausen, the SPD incumbent Johannes Bruns won in the first round, while in Greiz, the CDU and AfD candidates will face off in a runoff for the district administrator position. In Ilmenau, the incumbent independent mayor Daniel Schultheiß secured his position with a significant lead over the AfD candidate.
In Altenburger Land, the AfD candidate Heiko Philipp narrowly beat the incumbent Uwe Melzer (CDU) in the first round, leading to a runoff election. The Thuringian CDU has a strong presence in the traditionally Catholic region of Eichsfeld, but their candidate Marion Frant fell short of a direct victory and will face a runoff against the AfD-nominated Marcel König. In Kyffhäuserkreis, the long-serving SPD district administrator Antje Hochwind-Schneider will also need to defend her position in a runoff against the AfD candidate Andreas Hartung-Schettler. In Hildburghausen, a known neo-Nazi candidate, Tommy Frenck, made it to the runoff for the district administrator position, raising concerns about his extremist views and eligibility for the role.
Overall, the Thuringian municipal elections have showcased a diverse range of results, with various candidates and parties competing for top positions in different districts and cities. The runoff elections scheduled for June 9th will determine the final outcome and potentially shape the political landscape in the region leading up to the State Parliamentary elections in September. The significant voter turnout and participation of young voters reflect the importance of these local elections in shaping the future governance and leadership at the grassroots level in Thuringia.
