Rastatt 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 273. It is located in western Baden-Württemberg, comprising the city of Baden-Baden and the district of Rastatt.
Rastatt was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. Since 2013, it has been represented by Kai Whittaker of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Geography Rastatt is located in western Baden-Württemberg. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the independent city of Baden-Baden and the district of Rastatt.
History Rastatt was created in 1949. In the 1949 election, it was Baden constituency 7 in the number system. In the 1953 through 1961 elections, it was number 189. In the 1965 through 1976 elections, it was number 193. In the 1980 through 1998 elections, it was number 177. In the 2002 and 2005 elections, it was number 274. Since the 2009 election, it has been number 273.
Originally, the constituency comprised the independent city of Baden-Baden and the districts of Rastatt and Bühl. In the 1980 through 1994 elections, it comprised the city of Baden-Baden, the Rastatt districts, and the municipalities of Ettlingen, Malsch, and Rheinstetten from the Landkreis Karlsruhe district. In the 1998 election, it lost the Rheinstetten municipality. It acquired its current borders in the 2002 election.
Election Name Borders 1949 Rastatt Baden-Baden city Rastatt district Bühl district 1953 189 1957 1961 1965 193 1969 1972 1976 1980 177 Baden-Baden city Rastatt district Landkreis Karlsruhe district (only Ettlingen, Malsch, and Rheinstetten municipalities) 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 Baden-Baden city Rastatt district Landkreis Karlsruhe district (only Ettlingen and Malsch municipalities) 2002 274 Baden-Baden city Rastatt district 2005 2009 273 2013 2017 2021 2025
Members The constituency has been held continuously by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since its creation. It was first represented by Wendelin Morgenthaler from 1949 to 1957, followed by Ludwig Kroll for one term. Hugo Hauser was representative from 1961 to 1976, followed by Bernhard Friedmann from 1976 to 1990. Peter Götz then served from 1990 to 2013. Kai Whittaker was elected in 2013, and re-elected in 2017 and 2021.
Election Member Party % 1949 Wendelin Morgenthaler CDU 59.5 1953 65.4 1957 Ludwig Kroll CDU 64.9 1961 Hugo Hauser CDU 57.7 1965 61.1 1969 61.0 1972 58.2 1976 Bernhard Friedmann CDU 60.1 1980 55.5 1983 61.9 1987 58.4 1990 Peter Götz CDU 53.5 1994 53.4 1998 49.3 2002 51.0 2005 49.3 2009 48.0 2013 Kai Whittaker CDU 53.5 2017 44.1 2021 33.2 2025 33.8
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References