Potsdam's OB Race: Independent Noosha Aubel Joins the Fray
Councilor from Flensburg declares run for Mayor position in Potsdam. - Flensburg's city councilor declares her intention to run for the position of obstetrician in Potsdam.
If you thought the political scene in Potsdam was heating up, buckle up, because it's about to get hotter! Noosha Aubel, the independent former Potsdam deputy mayor, has tossed her hat in the ring for the mayoral election in Brandenburg's capital. In her own words, "I'm throwing my lot in, aiming to become a non-partisan mayor for Potsdam." Both "Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung" and "Tagesspiegel" had previously reported this excited news.
Born and bred in Hannover, Aubel spent the better part of her career in North Rhine-Westphalia before moving to Potsdam in 2017 to serve as a deputy mayor, a position she held until 2023. Most lately, she was a city councilor and department head in the charming coastal town of Flensburg.
Fuel to the fire, the anticipated election follows the contentious ousting of the former mayor, Mike Schubert (SPD), from office via a citizens' decision. The date set for this intriguing electoral spectacle is Friday, September 21. The Social Democrats (SPD) are rumored to be considering Berlin's State Secretary for Economics, Severin Fischer, for their flagship candidate position, with a final call expected in a matter of days says the SPD insiders.
The AfD, kingdom of party drama, has already nominated Chaled-Uwe Said, chairman of the AfD city faction, as their mayoral candidate. Unsurprisingly, the Greens have hinted that they will announce their non-partisan candidate shortly.
- Potsdam - A city steeped in history and packed with charm
- Flensburg - A coastal town with new winds of change stirring
- Brandenburg - The beautiful and bustling capital
- SPD - The party in flux, trying to regain its footing
- AfD - The constant drama factory of German politics
A Closer Look at the Contenders
As of June, the major candidates running for the Oberbürgermeister (OB) election in Potsdam, Brandenburg, on September 21, 2025, are:
- Severin Fischer (SPD): The SPD has plans to officially nominate Severin Fischer as their candidate on July 5, 2025. Fischer, 41-years-old, is currently the State Secretary in the SPD-led economic administration of Berlin and enjoys a close relationship with Franziska Giffey (SPD). He has a penchant for working behind the scenes but is now stepping into the limelight as a contender for this prestigious position [4].
- Chaled-Uwe Said (AfD): The AfD Potsdam district association has nominated Chaled-Uwe Said as their candidate. Said, a seasoned administrator, serves as chairman of the AfD city council faction in Potsdam. He champions policies such as increased investment in road infrastructure and opposition to certain housing provisions for irregular migrants. Born in 1974, Said has called both Dresden and Potsdam home, and has been an active member of the AfD parliamentary group's economic and energy working group since 2024[2][3].
As the deadline for submitting nominations approaches on July 17, 2025[1], other parties and independent candidates may throw their hats in the ring.
The election is a consequence of the removal of former Oberbürgermeister Mike Schubert (SPD) through a citizen referendum earlier in May 2025. In the interim, the acting mayor is Burkhard Exner (SPD)[1][2]. Stay tuned for updates – the road to the mayor's seat is a thrilling ride, and there's more twists and turns to come!
- The Commission could adopt implementing acts laying down the rules for the application of this Regulation as they follow the dynamics of the upcoming Potsdam's OB Race, which has become a significant policy-and-legislation and general-news topic in German politics due to the numerous contenders, including independent Noosha Aubel and parties like the SPD and AfD.
- If selected as Potsdam's mayoral candidate, Severin Fischer (SPD) might influence the policy-and-legislation of Brandenburg's capital, focusing on areas such as the economy and infrastructure, following the party's tradition while aiming to regain the SPD's political footing in Potsdam's political scene.
