On March 2, 2025, the residents of Hamburg cast their votes to elect representatives to the Bürgerschaft, the state parliament of this historic city. This election was the first significant test of political sentiment following the nationwide Bundestagswahl of February 23, setting the stage for a competitive race amid shifting political allegiances.
Initial reports from the voting day showed promising turnout, with approximately 67% of eligible voters participating, reflecting increased engagement compared to the previous election where turnout stood at 63%. The city, with 1.3 million eligible voters, found itself buzzing as polls remained open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Political observers noted this surge as indicative of the electorate’s interest amid pressing local issues.
The election results showed the Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by the current mayor Peter Tschentscher, maintaining its position but with a notable decline from the past election, garnering just 33.6% of votes — down 5.7 percentage points from 2020. Despite the loss, Tschentscher’s popularity remained strong, as he stated, “My first priority is to continue with Red-Green,” indicating his intention of forming another coalition similar to the previous legislative term.
Following the SPD, the CDU made significant gains, securing 19.7% of the vote—a substantial increase of 8.6 percentage points since the last election. This surge positioned the CDU as the second strongest party, reflecting a shift in voter loyalty, potentially influenced by their enhanced focus on local issues like urban mobility and housing—topics identified as top priorities by the electorate.
The Greens faced decline, achieving 18.5%, down 5.7 percentage points. While they remained the third-largest force, their drop suggests shifting sentiments among their traditional base. Observers anticipate the SPD might need to engage with the CDU to form a ruling coalition, which Tschentscher hinted at but also expressed preference for continuing the existing coalition with the Greens.
Other parties, such as the Left (Die Linke), reported solid performances with approximately 11.2% of the vote. Meanwhile, the right-wing AfD received about 7.5%, and newcomer Volt reached 3.2%, failing to clear the five percent threshold required for parliamentary representation. The FDP (Free Democratic Party) struggled dramatically, accumulating 2.3% of the elections.
The dynamics of coalition-building will be pivotal moving forward. With the SPD and CDU adjustments to their strategies and the Greens resisting decline, political analysts highlight the potential for more diverse alliances—especially as the SPD might need to reassess their coalition strategy depending on fluctuated support levels as results are finalized.
After the voting closed, the simplified counting indicated preliminary results, which will evolve when the official tally is released. Hamburg’s electoral system allows voters to cast their vote on two different ballots, giving them the option of marking their preferred candidates as well as their preferred party, up to ten votes total.
Voter responses during the campaign highlighted the key issues shaping sentiments: mobility and urban infrastructure topped the list, followed closely by housing affordability. At the same time, economic conditions and the port's future remain pivotal themes, especially as more residents express concerns about the economic outlook of their community.
Peter Tschentscher's approval ratings, before the election, continued to reflect satisfaction with his leadership—significantly influencing the SPD's strategy and outlook. It has now become apparent as to how the SPD's leadership will evolve after managing feedback from both their base and potential partners like the CDU and the Greens.
The full breakdown of seats and mandates will not be finalized until Monday evening, approximately 24 hours post-election, with official results confirming the nuances of party affiliations, coalition discussions, and the final seat distributions expected several weeks from now. Those following the elections are encouraged to keep track of developments as Hamburg navigates this new political chapter.