Social Democrats Win Hamburg Election, Maintain Coalition Power

The Social Democrats (SPD), led by Mayor Peter Tschentscher, are projected to win the regional elections in Hamburg, securing between 33.5% and 34% of the vote, despite a decrease from their previous 39.2% in 2020. The Christian Democrats (CDU) are expected to come in second with approximately 19.5%, marking a significant gain from their historical low of 11.2% in the last election, while the Greens are forecasted to receive between 17.5% and 20%. The Left Party and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) have also seen improvements, with the Left Party projected to reach 11.5% and the AfD between 7% and 8.5%. The election comes a week after the SPD's poor performance in federal elections, and the results could impact coalition talks at the national level. Despite losing some support, the SPD is expected to maintain its coalition with the Greens, which has governed Hamburg for the past five years. Overall, the election reflects Hamburg's status as a traditional stronghold for the SPD and highlights the shifting political landscape in Germany.