Kempten elects Christian Schoch as new mayor in tight runoff victory
Kempten has elected a new mayor after a tightly contested runoff. Christian Schoch, representing the Free Voters, secured victory with 55% of the vote. The election took place on March 22, following an inconclusive first round earlier this month.
The mayoral race began on March 8, with no candidate winning an outright majority. Incumbent mayor Thomas Kiechle, of the CSU, led with 45% of the vote but fell short of the 50% threshold. This triggered a runoff between Kiechle and Schoch, who advanced as the next highest contender.
Voter turnout for the runoff stood at 43.6%. Schoch's win marks a shift from the 2020 election, when Kiechle was re-elected with 54.32% of the vote. That year, the CSU also led the city council with 26.48%, followed by the Free Voters at 21.78% and the Green Party at 19.16%. The city council results from 2026 are not yet available, as the municipal election coincides with the mayoral vote. Kempten's political makeup remains unchanged until the full count is confirmed. The city, home to 72,286 residents, is known for landmarks like St. Lorenz Basilica and Kempten University of Applied Sciences. Kempten sits at 674 metres above sea level and covers 63.3 km². Its economy and culture revolve around institutions such as the Forum Allgäu shopping centre and Cambodunum Archaeological Park.
Christian Schoch will take office as Kempten's new mayor, replacing Thomas Kiechle after six years in the role. The Free Voters now hold the mayoral position, reflecting a change from the CSU's previous dominance. City council results, once finalised, will clarify any broader shifts in local governance.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
