At least seven candidates from the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party have died in the lead-up to the September 14th local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, the country’s most populous state. While authorities stress that no evidence of foul play has been found, the unusually high number of deaths—particularly within a single party—has raised eyebrows.
In total, 16 candidates across all parties have died before the vote, but no other political party has experienced more than one loss. Police confirmed that four of the AfD deaths were from natural causes, while investigations into the remaining three are ongoing, with no signs of violence reported thus far.
The latest confirmed death was 80-year-old Hans-Joachim Kind, an AfD candidate in the Kremenholl district, who reportedly passed away from natural causes following a prolonged illness.
Election officials downplayed the pattern, with a spokesman for the North Rhine-Westphalia election commission stating that the total number of deaths is “not significantly higher” than in previous elections, noting the large number of candidates running in the state.
The deputy chair of AfD North Rhine-Westphalia, Kay Gottschalk, said the party would treat the deaths “with due sensitivity and care.” She also confirmed that most of the deceased had known pre-existing health conditions, and that “no indications” suggest murder or foul play.
Germany’s political climate has become increasingly polarized, with the AfD leading national polls. According to RTL/NTV’s most recent tracker, AfD currently holds 26% support, narrowly ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU at 25%, while the ruling Social Democrats have slipped to just 13%.
The unusual string of candidate deaths has not impacted the AfD’s momentum heading into the local elections, where the party remains the top contender despite ongoing scrutiny and controversy from establishment parties.
