Ulm Residents Head to Polls Again for Mayoral Run-off Election
Get ready for a rematch in Ulm: the city announced that a run-off election is in the works for its mayoral race, as no candidate surpassed the 50% mark in the initial vote, according to preliminary results. The incumbent Gunter Czisch (CDU) and Martin Ansbacher (SPD) will face off in the run-off on December 17th.
Czisch, the two-term mayor of Ulm since 2016, isn't surprised by this development. With a crowded field of contenders including Lena Schwelling (Greens) and two independent candidates, he anticipated the odds of a single candidate securing a majority in the first round.
Ansbacher, a long-time member of Ulm's municipal council since 2014 and the current chair of the district SPD, leans into the campaign trail. His goal is to pull off an upset victory in the run-off.
Ulm's electorate turned out in moderately large numbers, with around 40% of eligible voters participating. This turnout rate is slightly lower than the last mayoral election in 2015, when the vote brought 43% to the polls.
Gunter Czisch's website: Martin Ansbacher's website:
Additional Insights
Interestingly, Baden-Württemberg, the state where Ulm is situated, has a rich cultural heritage. The upcoming mayoral election isn't solely a CDU/SPD affair. Independent candidates Thomas Treutler and Daniel Langhans are also participating, complementing the wide-ranging field. Municipal elections in the region often boast unique traditions, and the stitch selection process is a significant part of several election campaigns.
According to local records, this isn't the first time Ulm has required a run-off election for its mayoral race. Despite the lack of comprehensive information in readily available sources, archives and local records can help uncover historical run-off election results in Ulm mayoral elections.
