Potsdam votes: Noosha Aubel cracks SPD stronghold after 35 years!

Potsdam votes: Noosha Aubel cracks SPD stronghold after 35 years!

On October 13, 2025, there was a historic election morning in Potsdam: Noosha Aubel, the independent candidate, will become the city's new mayor. With over 72.9 percent of the votes, she decisively defeated the SPD challenger Severin Fischer, who only received around 27.1 percent of the votes. After 35 years, the SPD is losing the mayor's office in Potsdam, which was last held by Mike Schubert, who was voted out in a referendum in May. This result is a clear sign of political change in the city, and Aubel emphasizes her willingness to be open and approachable.

In the first round, Aubel only received 34.0 percent of the vote, but then had to prevail in the runoff by winning the majority in all 131 electoral districts. In total she received 60,803 votes, with her highest share of votes being achieved in Babelsberg Süd with an impressive 86.7 percent. However, voter turnout was 42.5 percent, 13 percentage points lower than in the first round.

With new ideas to the town hall

Noosha Aubel is the second woman to take up the office of mayor of Potsdam and the first since the term of office of Brunhilde Hanke, who was in office from 1961 to 1984. She was the city's representative for education, culture, youth and sport until 2023 and therefore already brings a wealth of experience with her. She is supported in her new office not only by her own community of voters, but also by the Greens, the voting group “Die Andere”, BfW and Volt. Aubel plans issue-oriented cooperation with democratic parties.

Severin Fischer, who described the election defeat as a “clear slap” for the SPD, now has to face a new political landscape. The SPD had the helm in Potsdam's town hall firmly in its hands for over three decades, now it's time to rethink and find new ways to regain trust.

Reactions and outlook

Burkhard Exner, who has acted as interim mayor for the past few months, immediately congratulated Aubel on her success. The election committee will determine the official final result next Thursday. Aubel has one week to formally accept the election before her term begins the day after acceptance. With a breath of fresh air in the town hall, Potsdam could experience many new, project-rich approaches in the coming years.

This makes it clear that the political landscape is changing not only in Potsdam, but also in other cities in Brandenburg. In Ludwigshafen, the non-party Blettner was able to win the race against the SPD candidate Gotter with 58.5 percent. In Frankfurt (Oder), the independent Strasser also received almost 70 percent of the votes against the AfD candidate Möller. Such election results are a clear sign that voters are looking for fresh ideas and alternatives.

The developments in Potsdam are definitely an exciting chapter in Brandenburg politics, and it remains to be seen how these new balances of power can be put into practice. Initially, the conditions for Noosha Aubel are promising and the citizens can hope for a lot of new things.