SPD elects Eva Bender as candidate for regional presidency!

SPD elects Eva Bender as candidate for regional presidency!

The future of the regional administration in Hanover could become female: On September 8, 2025, Eva Bender was nominated by the SPD as a candidate for the office of regional president in the 2026 local elections. Loud Seeing news Bender expressed that she accepted the nomination with a sense of respect and confidence and is ready to future-proof the region.

The decision was no coincidence: the previous regional president Steffen Krach, who leads the SPD in the race for the Berlin mayor's office, is not running again. Krach emphasized that his decision for Berlin was by no means a negative assessment for Hanover. He describes Bender as a distinguished and energetic personality who is committed to progress and educational justice. This is also reflected in the skills that Bender demonstrates in her current role as head of education and culture in Hanover.

Bender's career

Eva Bender brings a wealth of experience. She has been the head of the education and culture department since March 1, 2024 and has already initiated modern educational and care facilities as well as innovative formats such as the “educational dialogues”. Before this position, she was the first city councilor in Langenhagen and headed the administrative units for schools, youth and culture. She began her career between May 2014 and January 2017 as head of school planning and pedagogy. She was also able to gain experience in Braunschweig, where she worked as head of the school department.

When she was nominated, Bender's competence in local politics was highlighted by Leyla Hatami, chairwoman of the SPD in the Hanover region. She is a candidate with a clear plan for the importance of local amenities, mobility, good work and democratic cohesion - all key concerns for the region's approximately 1.2 million citizens.

The path to becoming the top candidate

Bender's nomination came unanimously from the governing bodies of the SPD sub-district Hanover region. “I would like to thank the SPD for its trust,” she said and reiterated her desire to improve the quality of life in the region and respond to the needs of citizens NDR.

If she is elected on September 13, 2026, she could become the SPD's first woman at the head of the regional administration, which would be symbolically important not only for the SPD, but also for the entire region. The SPD women, who are one of 11 working groups in the party and are committed to equal opportunities, could make further impressive progress here SPD Lower Saxony reported.

The election campaign has just begun and the course for the coming months has been set. The Hanover region is looking forward to Eva Bender's continued commitment and how her ideas will unfold in the political landscape.