Philipp Raulfs (SPD) becomes the new district administrator of Gifhorn with 53.6%!

Philipp Raulfs (SPD) becomes the new district administrator of Gifhorn with 53.6%!

Yesterday was an exciting day for the political landscape in the Gifhorn district. Philipp Raulfs from the SPD was elected as the new district administrator in the first round of voting with an impressive result of 53.6 percent of the votes. In today's announcement of the results by the district election committee, it was also announced that Telse Dirksmeyer-Vielhauer from the CDU received 25.4 percent and Stefan Marzischewski-Drewes from the AfD 18.99 percent of the vote. Marion Mäding from BSW only received 2 percent. This resulted in a clear majority for Raulfs and shows that he is very popular.

Raulfs himself had not expected this absolute majority. He will now be in office for a term of eight years until 2033 and plans to resign his mandate in the Lower Saxony state parliament after a two-week revocation period. Andrea Kötter from the SPD will take his place in the state parliament. But that's not all: Raulfs also has to resign from his position as honorary mayor of Hillerse.

A new start for Raulfs

The first big challenge for the new district administrator will be the budget consultation for 2026, which is due to be approved by the district council in mid-December. This fiscal policy task will be crucial in setting the course for the coming years. Raulfs has already made it clear that he takes the district's concerns seriously and wants to show a good hand for financial policy.

The election took place just a few months after the sudden death of the previous district administrator, Tobias Heilmann, in May 2025. Heilmann was only 49 years old and had held his position since November 2021. His term of office would have lasted until October 2026, but now there is a breath of fresh air and new ideas on the Gifhorn district's agenda.

A look at the election

The election, which took place on October 28, 2025, is not only an important moment for Raulfs, but also for the entire region. Voting, which is derived from the Middle High German “weln,” not only means making a decision, but also taking responsibility. This is particularly evident in this election, where citizens are placing their trust in the new district administrator. The numbers that Raulfs achieved are certainly a sign of strength for the SPD in these turbulent political times.

Overall, the election shows that the citizens of the Gifhorn district want to actively participate in shaping their future. The ability to influence voting remains an important asset in our democratic society.

For anyone who wants to delve deeper into the topic, there is a lot of information about voting and its importance in history, such as on Wiktionary.