In the lead-up to the highly anticipated local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, a series of untimely deaths among candidates from the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has sparked a storm of speculation, political debate, and logistical headaches for election officials. With the vote set for September 14, 2025, the deaths of seven AfD politicians within just two weeks have drawn national and even international attention, fueled by social media posts from party leaders and high-profile figures like Elon Musk.
According to Welt and Newsweek, the deceased include five direct AfD candidates and two reserve candidates. Wolfgang Seitz, aged 59, was the first to be announced, with his passing made public on August 21. Just days later, the city of Blomberg reported the "unfortunate death" of 66-year-old Ralph Lange on August 27. The following day, Bad Lippspringe officials revealed that Stefan Berendes, also 59, had "died unexpectedly." Earlier, on August 19, the city of Schwerte announced the unexpected death of Wolfgang Klinger, 71. By September 2, Kay Gottschalk, deputy state chairman of AfD's North Rhine-Westphalia branch, confirmed the deaths of Hans-Joachim Kind, 80, and reserve candidates René Herford and Patrick Tietze to Politico.
The suddenness and clustering of these deaths have led to a flurry of conspiracy theories and suspicions of foul play, especially within AfD circles. On Tuesday, Gottschalk appeared on WELT TV to address the swirling rumors. "We will, of course, investigate these cases with the necessary sensitivity and care," he said, but he was quick to add that there was "no indication" that the deaths were the result of "murder or anything similar." Gottschalk emphasized that some of the deceased had "pre-existing medical conditions," urging a careful investigation "without immediately getting into conspiracy theory territory."
Despite these reassurances, some AfD leaders have been less circumspect. Co-chairwoman Alice Weidel reposted a statement from retired economist Stefan Homburg, who called the deaths "statistically almost impossible." The party's billionaire supporter, Elon Musk, also highlighted the issue on X (formerly Twitter), amplifying the sense of urgency and intrigue. According to BBC and Politico, these posts have helped dominate the election campaign narrative in recent days, overshadowing policy debates and turning the focus squarely onto the party’s misfortunes.
Election officials, however, have worked to calm the waters. A spokesman for the state's election commissioner told the German press agency dpa that the number of candidate deaths is "not significantly higher" than in previous campaigns. In fact, official data show that a total of 16 candidates have died during the current campaign, with seven from the AfD. The spokesman pointed out that candidates pass away in every election cycle, and that the overall numbers are not out of line with historical trends. In four of the AfD cases, police have already ruled out unnatural causes of death. For the remaining cases, authorities have either cited natural causes or withheld details to preserve the privacy of the families involved.
Nonetheless, what sets this situation apart is the concentration of deaths within a single party. No other party has lost more than one candidate during this campaign. This anomaly, coupled with the AfD's recent surge in popularity, has been enough to set social media ablaze and prompt some cities to take extraordinary measures. According to Newsweek and Welt, the deaths have forced affected municipalities to invalidate early votes and scramble to reprint ballots ahead of the September 14 elections. In some cases, if a candidate dies too close to election day, a special election may need to be organized, potentially even on the day itself.
These logistical challenges come at a time when the AfD is enjoying unprecedented momentum, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia. The state, home to some 18 million people, has seen the party’s support skyrocket from just 5.4% in May 2022 to 16.8% in the February 2025 elections, as reported by the BBC. Nationally, the AfD came in second during the February federal elections, capturing 20.8% of the vote and securing 152 seats in the 630-seat Bundestag. This dramatic rise has made the party a force to be reckoned with, even as every mainstream party continues to rule out the possibility of forming a coalition with them.
The AfD’s growing prominence has only intensified the scrutiny it faces. Every party to the left of the AfD has condemned it as extremist and a threat to democracy, with left-wing critics even labeling it a neo-Nazi group. The AfD, for its part, vehemently rejects such characterizations. Its leaders maintain that the party "stands for the liberal democratic order and has nothing to do with this suspected neo-Nazi grouping." Some political analysts, as noted in Politico, take a more nuanced approach, describing the AfD as a coalition of broadly right-wing factions rather than a monolithic extremist bloc. Even Elon Musk has weighed in on the party’s platform, controversially asserting that AfD policies are "identical to those of the US Democratic Party when Obama took office."
For election officials, the immediate concern is less about ideology and more about the integrity and smooth functioning of the electoral process. With over 20,000 seats up for grabs in communal and municipal elections, any disruption—let alone the need to reprint ballots or hold special elections—can be a logistical nightmare. Still, the spokesman for the state’s election commissioner insists that the current situation, while unusual, is manageable and not unprecedented.
As the campaign enters its final stretch, the deaths of the AfD candidates remain both a somber reality and a political flashpoint. The party’s leaders continue to demand thorough investigations while warning against the spread of conspiracy theories. At the same time, their political opponents and election officials urge calm, highlighting the need for evidence and respect for the privacy of grieving families.
All eyes will be on North Rhine-Westphalia come September 14, not just to see how the AfD fares at the ballot box, but also to observe how German democracy copes with the intersection of tragedy, suspicion, and the relentless churn of political competition. The outcome could very well shape the narrative of German politics for years to come.
