title: Münster (electoral district)
text: # Münster (electoral district)
  
  Münster is an electoral constituency (German: Wahlkreis) represented in the Bundestag. It elects one member via first-past-the-post voting. Under the current constituency numbering system, it is designated as constituency 129. It is located in northern North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the city of Münster.
  
  Münster was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. Since 2021, it has been represented by Maria Klein-Schmeink of the Alliance 90/The Greens.
  
  ## Geography
  
  Münster is located in northern North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it is coterminous with the independent city of Münster.
  
  ## History
  
  Münster was created in 1949, then known as Münster-Stadt und -Land. It acquired its current name in the 1965 election. In the 1949 election, it was North Rhine-Westphalia constituency 38 in the numbering system. From 1953 through 1961, it was number 97. From 1965 through 1976, it was number 95. From 1980 through 1998, it was number 99. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 130. Since 2013, it has been number 129.
  
  Originally, the constituency comprised the city of Münster and the Landkreis Münster district. From 1965 through 1976, it comprised the city of Münster and the municipalities of Amelsbüren, Handorf, Hiltrup, and St. Mauritz from the Landkreis Münster district. Since the 1980 election, it has been coterminous with the city of Münster.
  
  | Election | No. | Name | Borders |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 1949 | 38 | Münster-Stadt und -Land | Münster city Landkreis Münster district |
  | 1953 | 97 | Münster-Stadt und -Land | Münster city Landkreis Münster district |
  | 1957 | 97 | Münster-Stadt und -Land | Münster city Landkreis Münster district |
  | 1961 | 97 | Münster-Stadt und -Land | Münster city Landkreis Münster district |
  | 1965 | 95 | Münster | Münster city Landkreis Münster district (only Amelsbüren, Handorf, Hiltrup, and St. Mauritz municipalities) |
  | 1969 | 95 | Münster | Münster city Landkreis Münster district (only Amelsbüren, Handorf, Hiltrup, and St. Mauritz municipalities) |
  | 1972 | 95 | Münster | Münster city Landkreis Münster district (only Amelsbüren, Handorf, Hiltrup, and St. Mauritz municipalities) |
  | 1976 | 95 | Münster | Münster city Landkreis Münster district (only Amelsbüren, Handorf, Hiltrup, and St. Mauritz municipalities) |
  | 1980 | 99 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 1983 | 99 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 1987 | 99 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 1990 | 99 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 1994 | 99 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 1998 | 99 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 2002 | 130 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 2005 | 130 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 2009 | 130 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 2013 | 129 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 2017 | 129 | Münster | Münster city |
  | 2021 | 129 | Münster | Münster city |
  
  ## Members
  
  The constituency has been held by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) during all but two Bundestag terms since 1949. It was first represented by Peter Nellen of the CDU from 1949 to 1961, followed by Hermann Diebäcker for two terms and Franz Berding for one. Friedrich-Adolf Jahn was then representative from 1972 to 1994. He was succeeded by Ruprecht Polenz from 1994 to 2002. Christoph Strässer of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2005, but former member Polenz regained the constituency for the CDU in 2009. Sybille Benning was elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. Maria Klein-Schmeink was elected for the Greens in 2021.
  
  | Election | Member | Party | % |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | 1949 | Peter Nellen | CDU | 34.6 |
  | 1953 | Peter Nellen | CDU | 67.8 |
  | 1957 | Peter Nellen | CDU | 64.8 |
  | 1961 | Hermann Diebäcker | CDU | 50.0 |
  | 1965 | Hermann Diebäcker | CDU | 57.0 |
  | 1969 | Franz Berding | CDU | 49.5 |
  | 1972 | Friedrich-Adolf Jahn | CDU | 48.4 |
  | 1976 | Friedrich-Adolf Jahn | CDU | 51.0 |
  | 1980 | Friedrich-Adolf Jahn | CDU | 47.6 |
  | 1983 | Friedrich-Adolf Jahn | CDU | 51.8 |
  | 1987 | Friedrich-Adolf Jahn | CDU | 45.2 |
  | 1990 | Friedrich-Adolf Jahn | CDU | 42.7 |
  | 1994 | Ruprecht Polenz | CDU | 44.0 |
  | 1998 | Ruprecht Polenz | CDU | 44.2 |
  | 2002 | Christoph Strässer | SPD | 40.8 |
  | 2005 | Christoph Strässer | SPD | 41.7 |
  | 2009 | Ruprecht Polenz | CDU | 39.3 |
  | 2013 | Sybille Benning | CDU | 38.8 |
  | 2017 | Sybille Benning | CDU | 37.2 |
  | 2021 | Maria Klein-Schmeink | GRÜNE | 32.3 |
  
  ## Election results
  
  ### 2021 election
  
  Federal election (2021): Münster :
  
  | Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
  | | Greens | Maria Klein-Schmeink | Maria Klein-Schmeink | 63,160 | 32.3 | 19.6 | 60,036 | 30.7 | 16.1 |
  | | CDU | Stefan Nacke | Stefan Nacke | 51,096 | 26.2 | 11.0 | 43,790 | 22.4 | 10.4 |
  | | SPD | Svenja Schulze | Svenja Schulze | 47,047 | 24.1 | 4.8 | 45,844 | 23.5 | 2.6 |
  | | FDP | Klaus Kretzer | Klaus Kretzer | 13,038 | 6.7 | 0.3 | 20,786 | 10.6 | 2.9 |
  | | AfD | Helmut Birke | Helmut Birke | 5,234 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 5,603 | 2.9 | 2.1 |
  | | Left | Kira Sawilla | Kira Sawilla | 7,078 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 9,746 | 5.0 | 5.2 |
  | | Volt | Carina Beckmann | Carina Beckmann | 2,505 | 1.3 | | 1,812 | 0.9 | |
  | | PARTEI | Roland Scholle | Roland Scholle | 2,283 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1,684 | 0.9 | 0.2 |
  | | dieBasis | Peter Balint | Peter Balint | 1,582 | 0.8 | | 1,409 | 0.7 | |
  | | Tierschutzpartei | | | | | | 1,326 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
  | | Team Todenhöfer | | | | | | 774 | 0.4 | |
  | | FW | Olaf Wirl | Olaf Wirl | 966 | 0.5 | | 691 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
  | | Pirates | | | | | | 479 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
  | | ÖDP | Alina Möller | Alina Möller | 897 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 422 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
  | | Independent | Sarah Geselbracht | Sarah Geselbracht | 207 | 0.1 | | | | |
  | | Humanists | | | | | | 205 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
  | | V-Partei3 | | | | | | 150 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
  | | LIEBE | | | | | | 138 | 0.1 | |
  | | Gesundheitsforschung | | | | | | 116 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
  | | du. | | | | | | 93 | 0.0 | |
  | | LfK | | | | | | 79 | 0.0 | |
  | | DKP | Manfred Stolper | Manfred Stolper | 179 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 75 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | PdF | | | | | | 52 | 0.0 | |
  | | NPD | | | | | | 45 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | Bündnis C | | | | | | 42 | 0.0 | |
  | | LKR | | | | | | 25 | 0.0 | |
  | | Independent | Andrea Dumberger | Andrea Dumberger | 23 | 0.0 | | | | |
  | | PSG | | | | | | 22 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | MLPD | | | | | | 12 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 981 | | | 820 | | |
  | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | 195,295 | | | 195,456 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 196,276 | 83.9 | 1.6 | | | |
  | | Greens gain from CDU | Greens gain from CDU | Majority | 12,064 | 6.1 | | | | |
  
  ### 2017 election
  
  Federal election (2017): Münster :
  
  | Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
  | | CDU | Y Sybille Benning | Y Sybille Benning | 70,606 | 37.2 | 1.6 | 62,276 | 32.8 | 5.1 |
  | | SPD | Robert von Olberg | Robert von Olberg | 54,778 | 28.9 | 6.6 | 39,714 | 20.9 | 6.3 |
  | | Greens | Maria Klein-Schmeink | Maria Klein-Schmeink | 24,248 | 12.8 | 1.7 | 27,739 | 14.6 | 0.6 |
  | | FDP | Jörg Berens | Jörg Berens | 13,219 | 7.0 | 1.2 | 25,684 | 13.5 | 6.7 |
  | | Left | Hubertus Zdebel | Hubertus Zdebel | 13,024 | 6.9 | 2.6 | 19,287 | 10.1 | 3.9 |
  | | AfD | Martin Schiller | Martin Schiller | 8,569 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 9,393 | 4.9 | 2.0 |
  | | PARTEI | Marie Völkering | Marie Völkering | 2,722 | 1.4 | | 1,935 | 1.0 | 0.6 |
  | | Tierschutzpartei | | | | | | 781 | 0.4 | |
  | | Pirates | Daniel Düngel | Daniel Düngel | 1,003 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 712 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
  | | ÖDP | Joachim Bruns | Joachim Bruns | 1,027 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 641 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
  | | DiB | | | | | | 337 | 0.2 | |
  | | FW | | | | | | 246 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
  | | Independent | Carlos Abaga Ayingono | Carlos Abaga Ayingono | 224 | 0.1 | | | | |
  | | V-Partei³ | | | | | | 222 | 0.1 | |
  | | BGE | | | | | | 218 | 0.1 | |
  | | DM | | | | | | 192 | 0.1 | |
  | | Die Humanisten | | | | | | 158 | 0.1 | |
  | | Independent | Markus Overdiek | Markus Overdiek | 154 | 0.1 | | | | |
  | | AD-DEMOKRATEN | | | | | | 137 | 0.1 | |
  | | NPD | | | | | | 111 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
  | | Volksabstimmung | | | | | | 110 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
  | | Gesundheitsforschung | | | | | | 95 | 0.0 | |
  | | DKP | Manfred Stolper | Manfred Stolper | 173 | 0.1 | | 66 | 0.0 | |
  | | MLPD | Sebastian Zumdick | Sebastian Zumdick | 107 | 0.1 | | 64 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | SGP | | | | | | 8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,236 | | | 964 | | |
  | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | 189,854 | | | 190,126 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 191,090 | 82.3 | 3.2 | | | |
  | | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 15,828 | 8.3 | 4.9 | | | |
  
  ### 2013 election
  
  Federal election (2013): Münster :
  
  | Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
  | | CDU | Sybille Benning | Sybille Benning | 69,352 | 38.8 | 0.4 | 67,626 | 37.8 | 4.1 |
  | | SPD | Christoph Strässer | Christoph Strässer | 63,296 | 35.4 | 2.8 | 48,579 | 27.2 | 3.4 |
  | | Greens | Maria Klein-Schmeink | Maria Klein-Schmeink | 19,767 | 11.1 | 1.7 | 27,118 | 15.2 | 2.0 |
  | | FDP | Daniel Bahr | Daniel Bahr | 10,222 | 5.7 | 4.2 | 12,119 | 6.8 | 7.9 |
  | | Left | Hubertus Zdebel | Hubertus Zdebel | 7,620 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 11,254 | 6.3 | 0.4 |
  | | AfD | Helmut Birke | Helmut Birke | 3,651 | 2.0 | | 5,236 | 2.9 | |
  | | Pirates | Sasa Raber | Sasa Raber | 3,582 | 2.0 | | 4,037 | 2.3 | 0.1 |
  | | PARTEI | | | | | | 673 | 0.4 | |
  | | ÖDP | Sieglinde Kersting | Sieglinde Kersting | 752 | 0.4 | | 595 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
  | | NPD | | | | | | 490 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
  | | Independent | Harry Seemann | Harry Seemann | 324 | 0.2 | | | | |
  | | Nichtwahler | | | | | | 218 | 0.1 | |
  | | FW | | | | | | 195 | 0.1 | |
  | | PRO | | | | | | 139 | 0.1 | |
  | | Volksabstimmung | | | | | | 123 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
  | | Party of Reason | | | | | | 113 | 0.1 | |
  | | BIG | | | | | | 59 | 0.0 | |
  | | REP | | | | | | 54 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
  | | RRP | | | | | | 52 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | MLPD | | | | | | 51 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | PSG | | | | | | 27 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | Die Rechte | | | | | | 23 | 0.0 | |
  | | BüSo | | | | | | 21 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,527 | | | 1,291 | | |
  | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | 178,566 | | | 178,802 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 180,093 | 79.1 | 1.4 | | | |
  | | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 6,056 | 3.4 | 3.3 | | | |
  
  ### 2009 election
  
  Federal election (2009): Münster :
  
  | Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
  | | CDU | Ruprecht Polenz | Ruprecht Polenz | 63,819 | 39.3 | 2.1 | 54,902 | 33.7 | 1.8 |
  | | SPD | N Christoph Strässer | N Christoph Strässer | 53,029 | 32.6 | 9.1 | 38,604 | 23.7 | 11.6 |
  | | Greens | Maria Klein-Schmeink | Maria Klein-Schmeink | 20,822 | 12.8 | 4.4 | 27,985 | 17.2 | 3.8 |
  | | FDP | Daniel Bahr | Daniel Bahr | 16,131 | 9.9 | 4.8 | 23,951 | 14.7 | 4.4 |
  | | Left | Hubertus Zdebel | Hubertus Zdebel | 7,805 | 4.8 | 2.2 | 10,970 | 6.7 | 2.7 |
  | | Pirates | | | | | | 3,489 | 2.1 | |
  | | NPD | Dennis Dormuth | Dennis Dormuth | 718 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 574 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
  | | Tierschutzpartei | | | | | | 567 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
  | | ÖDP | | | | | | 417 | 0.3 | |
  | | FAMILIE | | | | | | 416 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
  | | RENTNER | | | | | | 294 | 0.2 | |
  | | REP | | | | | | 175 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
  | | RRP | | | | | | 107 | 0.1 | |
  | | Volksabstimmung | | | | | | 89 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
  | | Centre | | | | | | 78 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | MLPD | | | | | | 39 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | DVU | | | | | | 38 | 0.0 | |
  | | PSG | | | | | | 19 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | | BüSo | | | | | | 17 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,362 | | | 1,190 | | |
  | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | Total Valid votes | 162,559 | | | 162,731 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 163,921 | 77.7 | 5.3 | | | |
  | | CDU gain from SPD | CDU gain from SPD | Majority | 10,790 | 6.7 | | | | |
  