Esslingen 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 261. It is located in central Baden-Württemberg, comprising the northern part of the Esslingen district.
Esslingen was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. From 2002 to 2025, it was represented by Markus Grübel of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Since 2025 it has been represented by David Preisendanz of the CDU.
Geography Esslingen is located in central Baden-Württemberg. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises municipalities of Aichwald, Altbach, Baltmannsweiler, Deizisau, Denkendorf, Esslingen am Neckar, Hochdorf, Köngen, Lichtenwald, Neuhausen auf den Fildern, Ostfildern, Plochingen, Reichenbach an der Fils, Wendlingen am Neckar, and Wernau from the Esslingen district.
History Esslingen was created in 1949, then known as Eßlingen. It acquired its current name in the 1980 election. In the 1949 election, it was Württemberg-Baden Landesbezirk Württemberg constituency 6 in the numbering system. In the 1953 through 1961 elections, it was number 168. In the 1965 through 1976 elections, it was number 171. In the 1980 through 1998 elections, it was number 165. In the 2002 and 2005 elections, it was number 262. Since the 2009 election, it has been number 261.
Originally, the constituency comprised the Eßlingen district and the municipalities of Aichtal, Altdorf, Altenriet, Bempflingen, Beuren, Erkenbrechtsweiler, Frickenhausen, Grafenberg, Großbettlingen, Nürtingen, Neuffen, Kohlberg, Neckartailfingen, Neckartenzlingen, Oberboihingen, Schlaitdorf, and Unterensingen from the Nürtingen district. In the 1965 through 1976 elections, it was coterminous with the Eßlingen district. It acquired its current borders in the 1980 election.
Election Name Borders 1949 Eßlingen Eßlingen district Nürtingen district (only Aichtal, Altdorf, Altenriet, Bempflingen, Beuren, Erkenbrechtsweiler, Frickenhausen, Grafenberg, Großbettlingen, Nürtingen, Neuffen, Kohlberg, Neckartailfingen, Neckartenzlingen, Oberboihingen, Schlaitdorf, and Unterensingen municipalities) 1953 168 1957 1961 1965 171 Eßlingen district 1969 1972 1976 1980 165 Esslingen Esslingen district (only Aichwald, Altbach, Baltmannsweiler, Deizisau, Denkendorf, Esslingen am Neckar, Hochdorf, Köngen, Lichtenwald, Neuhausen auf den Fildern, Ostfildern, Plochingen, Reichenbach an der Fils, Wendlingen am Neckar, and Wernau municipalities) 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 262 2005 2009 261 2013 2017 2021 2025
Members The constituency has been held by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) during all but four Bundestag terms since its creation. It was first represented by Franz Ott from 1949 to 1953; Ott was one of three independents elected to the first Bundestag. Thomas Ruf of the CDU won it in 1953 and served until 1972, when Volker Hauff of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was elected. Gerd Langguth regained it for the CDU in 1976, but Hauff was elected again in 1980. Otto Hauser won it for the CDU in 1983 and served until 1998, when Siegmar Mosdorf of the SPD was elected. Markus Grübel of the CDU has been representative since 2002.
Election Member Party % 1949 Franz Ott Ind. 28.0 1953 Thomas Ruf CDU 43.2 1957 49.6 1961 39.0 1965 48.8 1969 46.6 1972 Volker Hauff SPD 49.1 1976 Gerd Langguth CDU 48.7 1980 Volker Hauff SPD 47.6 1983 Otto Hauser CDU 50.7 1987 50.8 1990 49.3 1994 47.3 1998 Siegmar Mosdorf SPD 45.9 2002 Markus Grübel CDU 45.0 2005 46.8 2009 43.5 2013 51.3 2017 40.0 2021 32.0
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References