Mayoral runoff election in Elmshorn: Who will win?

Mayoral runoff election in Elmshorn: Who will win?

There is great excitement in Elmshorn today because citizens have the opportunity to elect their new mayor. The decisive runoff election will take place today, October 19, 2025. The two candidates on the ballot are Erik Sachse from the CDU, also supported by the Greens, and Arne Klaus from the SPD. The returning officer, Volker Hatje, the incumbent mayor, is overseeing the election after he no longer wanted to run after twelve years.

In the first round of the election on September 28th, Erik Sachse received a shockingly narrow 49.993 percent of the vote, leaving him just two votes short of an absolute majority. Arne Klaus followed him with 44.104 percent. The third candidate, Olaf Kipp from the Ecological Democratic Party (ödp), was unable to play a role in the further course of the election with 5.904 percent. A total of 38,191 eligible voters were invited to cast their votes.

Voter turnout and postal voting

Voter turnout in the first round was only 36 percent, which doesn't necessarily indicate keen interest. There are also reports that 57 postal voting documents arrived late, which could potentially influence the election result. However, the postal service stated that it delivered all voting letters on time. Over 6,200 Elmshorn residents took advantage of the opportunity to vote by post, and the polling stations are open today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Erik Sachse has taken unpaid leave for his election campaign and is showing great commitment by working up to 20 hours a day to win over voters. Arne Klaus, on the other hand, had to interrupt his campaign activities for a few days due to a sudden illness, which was an unexpected setback. Both candidates clearly recognized how important every single vote is in this exciting runoff election.

A look at the distribution of votes

Election statistics show that voting is an important part of democracy. The numbers from the last elections not only reflect the distribution of votes, but also highlight gender and geographical characteristics in the electorate. In Elmshorn, however, it is clear that citizens are seriously concerned with the electoral decisions, even if participation can be expanded. Particularly now, in the runoff election, commitment is crucial.

The decision on the new mayor of Elmshorn will be made from January 1, 2026, and the tension is palpable. As citizens cast their votes, it remains to be seen who will ultimately win. In any case, one thing is certain: the upcoming election has provided a lot of conversation in Elmshorn and shows how important it is to use your voice.

For more information about the election and current results you can visit the articles NDR and SHZ read up on it as well as the comprehensive statistics Statistics portal retrieve.