The Hamburg State Elections held on March 2, 2025, have delivered significant results, reinforcing the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as the leading political force. Despite facing challenges, particularly from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the SPD led by Mayor Peter Tschentscher secured 33.5% of the votes, albeit 5.7 percentage points lower than their performance five years prior.
Emerging as the second-largest party, the CDU improved its standings, garnering 19.8% of the vote, rising sharply from the 11.2% it secured during the previous election. The Greens, formerly strong contenders, endured notable losses this year, recording 18.5%, which is down by 5.7 percentage points from 2020.
The Left party also experienced gains, reaching 11.2%, reflecting increased support particularly among younger voters. Meanwhile, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) garnered 7.5%, showcasing modest improvements yet remaining significantly lower than their national results.
This election was marked by higher voter engagement, with about 1.3 million eligible voters participating. The turnout peaked at 67.7%, surpassing the 63% turnout recorded during the last election. This escalation signifies growing interest among Hamburg residents about governance issues.
Post-election, Peter Tschentscher indicated intentions to pursue coalition talks, first with the Greens and then with the CDU, indicating the potential for continued governance in Hamburg under the Red-Green alliance formed back in 2015. Tschentscher remarked, "Hamburg remains firmly in competent hands," affirming his commitment to maintaining the stability previously established by his party.
CDU’s candidate Dennis Thering expressed openness to collaborative efforts, stating, "We stand for a stable government with positive changes, especially in safety, economy, and traffic." This willingness to negotiate reflects the CDU’s recognition of the shifting political winds and their ambition to assert influence within Hamburg’s political framework.
Conversely, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) suffered significant losses once again, falling short of the 5% threshold, recording just 2.3% of the votes. This marked the party's worst performance in Hamburg's history. Newcomers like the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) and Volt also underperformed, with BSW failing to secure any seats, managing only 1.7% of the votes, whereas Volt mustered 3.3%.
Katharina Fegebank, the Greens’ Spitzenkandidatin, affirmed her party's intent to continue the coalition with the SPD, saying, "We will continue the Red-Green coalition here in this city. It is a successful model." This statement highlights her strategic positioning to maintain power amid electoral fluctuations.
Analysts are weighing the significance of this election on national trends. Karl-Rudolf Korte opined, “The cast of Hamburg's vote was not just about the city, it reflects national trends.” With national politics turbulent, Hamburg's local government continues to show resilience and stability through cohesive governance.
The election results reveal not only the endurance of the SPD and the ascendance of the CDU but also underline shifting allegiances and growing engagement from the electorate. The impact of this election extends beyond local politics, hinting at observable patterns within German politics as the nation navigates through changing political dynamics.
While all eyes will be on the negotiations between Tschentscher's SPD and its potential coalition partners, the underlying trends observed during the Hamburg elections may foreshadow what is to come, making it imperative for political stakeholders to address the driving concerns of their constituents effectively.