Herne – Bochum II 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 140. It is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the city of Herne and the eastern part of the city of Bochum.
Herne – Bochum II was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. From 2013 to 2025, it was represented by Michelle Müntefering of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Since 2025 it has been represented by Hendrik Bollmann of the SPD.
Geography Herne – Bochum II is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the entirety of the independent city of Herne and the city districts (Stadtbezirke) of 3 Bochum-Nord and 4 Bochum-Ost from the independent city of Bochum.
History Herne – Bochum II was created in 1949, then known as Herne – Castrop-Rauxel. From 1980 through 1994, it was named Herne. In the 1998 election, it was named Herne – Bochum III. It acquired its current name in the 2002 election. In the 1949 election, it was North Rhine-Westphalia constituency 53 in the numbering system. From 1953 through 1961, it was number 112. From 1965 through 1976, it was number 111. From 1980 through 1998, it was number 112. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 142. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 141. From the 2025 election, it has been number 140.
Originally, the constituency comprised the independent cities of Herne and Castrop-Rauxel. From 1980 through 1994, it was coterminous with the independent city of Herne. In the 1998 election, it comprised Herne as well as the Stadtteile of Bergen and Hiltrop from the independent city of Bochum. It acquired its current borders in the 2002 election.
Election Name Borders 1949 Herne – Castrop-Rauxel Herne city Castrop-Rauxel city 1953 112 1957 1961 1965 111 1969 1972 1976 1980 112 Herne Herne city 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 Herne – Bochum III Herne city Bochum city (only Bergen and Hiltrop Stadtteile) 2002 142 Herne – Bochum II Herne city Bochum city (only 3 Bochum-Nord and 4 Bochum-Ost Stadtbezirke) 2005 2009 2013 141 2017 2021 2025 140
Members The constituency has been held by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) during all but two Bundestag terms since its creation. It was first represented by Heinrich Imig of the SPD 1949 until 1953, when it was won by Friedrich Welskop of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Ulrich Berger retained it for the CDU in the 1957 election, but Herbert Kriedemann regained it for the SPD in 1961 and served until 1972. Walter Arendt succeeded him and was representative until 1980, followed by Heinz Westphal until 1990. Dieter Maaß served from 1990 to 2002, when he was succeeded by Gerd Bollmann. Michelle Müntefering was elected in 2013, and re-elected in 2017 and 2021. In 2025 Müntefering was succeeded by Hendrik Bollmann.
Election Member Party % 1949 Heinrich Imig SPD 41.7 1953 Friedrich Welskop CDU 44.1 1957 Ulrich Berger CDU 47.9 1961 Herbert Kriedemann SPD 48.4 1965 54.9 1969 57.7 1972 Walter Arendt SPD 66.0 1976 62.9 1980 Heinz Westphal SPD 64.8 1983 61.0 1987 61.1 1990 Dieter Maaß SPD 58.4 1994 62.2 1998 65.5 2002 Gerd Bollmann SPD 61.5 2005 59.4 2009 51.7 2013 Michelle Müntefering SPD 48.7 2017 41.8 2021 43.4 2025 Hendrik Bollmann SPD 33.5
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References