Rhein-Erft-Kreis I 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 90. It is located in western North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising most of the Rhein-Erft-Kreis district.
Rhein-Erft-Kreis I was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. Since 2013, it has been represented by Georg Kippels of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Geography Rhein-Erft-Kreis I is located in western North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the entirety of the Rhein-Erft-Kreis district excluding the municipalities of Brühl, Erftstadt, and Wesseling.
History Rhein-Erft-Kreis I was created in 1949, then known as Köln-Land. In the 1976 through 2009 elections, it was named Erftkreis I. It acquired its current name in the 2013 election. In the 1949 election, it was North Rhine-Westphalia constituency 6 in the numbering system. In the 1953 through 1961 elections, it was number 65. From 1965 through 1976, it was number 58. From 1980 through 1998, it was number 57. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 92. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 91. From the 2025 election, it has been number 90.
Originally, the constituency was coterminous with the district of Landkreis Köln. It acquired its current borders in the 1980 election. The Erftkreis district was renamed Rhein-Erft-Kreis in 2003, but the constituency's borders did not change.
Election Name Borders 1949 Köln-Land Landkreis Köln district 1953 65 1957 1961 1965 58 1969 1972 1976 Erftkreis I 1980 57 Erftkreis district (excluding Brühl, Erftstadt, and Wesseling municipalities) 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 92 2005 Rhein-Erft-Kreis district (excluding Brühl, Erftstadt, and Wesseling municipalities) 2009 2013 91 Rhein-Erft-Kreis I 2017 2021 2025 90
Members The constituency was first represented by Aloys Lenz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 1949 to 1969. The Social Democratic Party (SPD)'s candidate Rudi Adams won it in 1969 and served until 1980. He was succeeded by fellow SPD member Klaus Lennartz until 2002. Gabriele Frechen of the SPD then served from 2002 to 2009. Willi Zylajew of the CDU was elected in the 2009 election and served a single term. Georg Kippels was elected in 2013, and re-elected in 2017, 2021 and 2025.
Election Member Party % 1949 Aloys Lenz CDU 43.0 1953 53.6 1957 58.8 1961 53.6 1965 51.9 1969 Rudi Adams SPD 48.8 1972 53.2 1976 46.4 1980 Klaus Lennartz SPD 52.1 1983 48.3 1987 50.8 1990 52.1 1994 51.2 1998 53.0 2002 Gabriele Frechen SPD 48.9 2005 47.8 2009 Willi Zylajew CDU 39.4 2013 Georg Kippels CDU 47.3 2017 39.2 2021 33.0 2025 35.0
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References