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District election in Gifhorn: Who will be Tobias Heilmann's successor?
The district elections in Gifhorn will take place on October 26, 2025. Find out everything about candidates, election procedures and backgrounds.
District election in Gifhorn: Who will be Tobias Heilmann's successor?
On Sunday, October 26th, an unscheduled district election will be held in the Gifhorn district. The reason for this is the unexpected death of the previous incumbent Tobias Heilmann (SPD) at the end of May, whose term of office should have lasted until October 31, 2026. It is now up to the 141,889 citizens of the district who are eligible to vote to elect a new district administrator. As the WAZ reported, 18,850 voting slips had already been issued by October 24th - that corresponds to 13.3% of those eligible to vote.
The election is of great importance because the elected person will take over the management of the district administration and will be responsible for the financial management and strategic direction of the district. The new term of office will last a total of eight years. Voters only have one vote, and in order to achieve an absolute majority in the first round, candidates must receive at least 50% of the vote. Otherwise, there will be a runoff election between the two best-placed applicants on November 9th, as stated on the website Gifhorn district is explained.
Candidates at a glance
Four candidates are running for the election, each with different objectives and backgrounds:
- Philipp Raulfs (SPD): Er wollte die wirtschaftliche Widerstandsfähigkeit des Landkreises stärken und setzt auf die Förderung erneuerbarer Energien sowie Unternehmensgründungen. Raulfs bringt Erfahrung aus seiner Zeit als Landtagsabgeordneter mit und engagiert sich zudem bei der Feuerwehr.
- Telse Dirksmeyer-Vielhauer (CDU): Ihre Hauptziele sind die Stärkung der Lebensqualität im ländlichen Raum und der Fokus auf moderne Verwaltung. Als Unternehmerin mit Hintergrund im Gartenbau möchte sie Mobilität und schnelles Internet im Landkreis fördern.
- Marion Mäding (BSW): Sie ist Quereinsteigerin mit Erfahrungen bei Volkswagen und strebt finanzielle Handlungsfähigkeit der Kommunen an. Mäding steht für soziale Gerechtigkeit und Bürgernähe.
- Stefan Marzischewski-Drewes (AfD): Sein Fokus liegt auf der Modernisierung und Effizienzsteigerung der Kreisverwaltung, mit besonderem Augenmerk auf Digitalisierung und Bürokratieabbau.
Organizational framework conditions
The electoral organization includes 211 electoral districts and 31 postal voting districts, with around 1,670 election workers ensuring that everything runs smoothly. On election Sunday, polling stations are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The election is not only an important local process, but also fits into the nationwide practice of local elections, which in Germany are regulated by the Basic Law. These call for generally accessible, free and secret elections and also enable Union citizens who live in Germany to be able to vote Federal Agency for Civic Education highlights.
This election marks a new path for the Gifhorn district - it remains to be seen which candidate can win the trust of the citizens in order to address the region's important issues and challenges in a future-oriented manner.