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Leipzig's 2027 mayoral race begins without SPD as three candidates emerge

A historic shift looms in Leipzig after 36 years of SPD leadership. Can The Left's Jennicke or outsiders Recke and Kulesch reshape the city's future?

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
The image shows an old map of the city of Leipzig, Germany, with text written on it. The map is...
The image shows an old map of the city of Leipzig, Germany, with text written on it. The map is detailed, showing the streets, buildings, and other landmarks of the area. The text on the map provides additional information about the city, such as its population, roads, and landmarks.

Leipzig's 2027 mayoral race begins without SPD as three candidates emerge

Leipzig's city government has been led by SPD mayors for 36 years. Following Hinrich Lehmann-Grube and Wolfgang Tiefensee, the current incumbent, Burkhard Jung, took office in 2006. The 68-year-old, who previously served as deputy mayor for youth and sports, is now in his second term as president of the German Association of Cities. After three terms in office, however, he will not run again in the next mayoral election due to his age. With the race for his succession wide open, candidates are already positioning themselves—despite the fact that the election on February 21, 2027, is still more than eleven months away.

The Left Party has already nominated its candidate: Skadi Jennicke, who has served as Leipzig's cultural affairs mayor since 2016 in this city of 611,000. At a party conference, she was elected with 77.5 percent of the vote. The 48-year-old, a Leipzig native with a degree in dramaturgy and a doctorate in philosophy, was previously proposed by the city's executive board. Nina Treu, co-chair of the party's 5,000-member Leipzig branch, pointed out that for over 700 years, "only men have stood at the helm of city hall"—now, she said, "it is finally time for the first woman." Jennicke, Treu argued, has "credibly demonstrated over the past decade that she can strategically, decisively, and effectively lead a policy area critical to Leipzig." Her experience and her "deep personal connection to the city" make her the ideal candidate for mayor.

"For over 700 years, only men have led city hall. It is finally time for a woman." —Nina Treu, co-chair, The Left Leipzig

The Left has consistently performed well in Leipzig elections. In the February 2025 federal election, it secured 22.5 percent of the second votes, emerging as the strongest party. In the 2019 city council election, it became the largest faction with 21.4 percent, though in 2024 it slipped to second place behind the CDU with 17.5 percent. The party currently holds twelve seats on the city council.

Its track record in mayoral races, however, has been weaker. Over a quarter-century ago, PDS candidate Lothar Tippach won 29.8 percent of the vote—though this was not enough to challenge the eventual winner, Wolfgang Tiefensee. In later elections, federal lawmakers Barbara Höll and Dietmar Peilmann each garnered around 15 percent, while current city council faction leader Franziska Riekewald received 13.5 percent—decent results, but not decisive. In 2020, Riekewald's withdrawal from the race helped Jung secure victory against CDU candidate Sebastian Gemkow, who had won the first round.

For the 2027 election, the CDU, SPD, and Greens have yet to nominate candidates. The BSW party plans to field Eric Recke, leader of its city council faction and a state lawmaker. The first declared candidate was independent Lars Kulesch, a former Left Party member now active in Saxony's Basic Income Alliance.

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