Rettenbach's Mayoral Race Heads to a Vote on March 8—Will a Runoff Follow?

A small Bavarian village with a history of landslide victories now faces a tight race. Will voters avoid a second round—or return on March 22?

, and Administrator

2026 March 6 . 11:03 AM

1 min read

The image shows a map of Germany with the provinces highlighted in red and blue, indicating the... — The image shows a map of Germany with the provinces highlighted in red and blue, indicating the results of the 2016 election. The text on the map provides further details about the election results, such as the names of the candidates and the date of the election.

Rettenbach's Mayoral Race Heads to a Vote on March 8—Will a Runoff Follow?

Rettenbach am Auerberg will hold its mayoral election on March 8, with polls open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The result will be announced in a live graphic once counting finishes. A candidate needs over 50 percent of the vote to win outright—otherwise, a runoff follows on March 22.

The village has a history of decisive local elections. In 2020, Reiner Friedl won the mayoral race unopposed with 88.4 percent of the vote. That same year, the Rettenbach Village Community list secured 98.6 percent in the municipal council election, running as the only group on the ballot.

Rettenbach lies within Ostallgäu, a district covering 1,394.43 square kilometres. Its terrain varies from 578 metres at its lowest point to 2,082 metres at its highest. The administrative centre is Marktoberdorf, one of the district's key towns alongside Füssen and Buchloe. As of December 2024, Ostallgäu's population stands at 142,047.

The upcoming election will determine Rettenbach's next mayor. If no candidate reaches the required majority, voters will return for a second round in two weeks. The outcome will shape local leadership for the coming years.