Gelsenkirchen 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 122. It is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the city of Gelsenkirchen.
Gelsenkirchen was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. Since 2017, it has been represented by Markus Töns of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Geography Gelsenkirchen is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it is coterminous with the independent city of Gelsenkirchen.
History Gelsenkirchen was created in 1949. From 1965 through 1998, it was named Gelsenkirchen I. It acquired its current name in the 2002 election. In the 1949 election, it was North Rhine-Westphalia constituency 40 in the numbering system. From 1953 through 1961, it was number 99. From 1965 through 1976, it was number 97. From 1980 through 1998, it was number 93. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 124. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 123. From the 2025 election, it has been number 122.
Originally, the constituency was coterminous with the city of Gelsenkirchen. From 1965 through 1976, it comprised the Stadtteile of Hassel, Buer, Horst, Heßler, and Rotthausen. From 1980 through 1998, it comprised the Stadtbezirke of Mitte, West, and Süd. Since the 2002 election, it has again been coterminous with the city of Gelsenkirchen.
Election Name Borders 1949 Gelsenkirchen Gelsenkirchen city 1953 99 1957 1961 1965 97 Gelsenkirchen I Gelsenkirchen city (only Hassel, Buer, Horst, Heßler, and Rotthausen Stadtteile) 1969 1972 1976 1980 93 Gelsenkirchen city (only Hassel, Mitte, West, and Süd Stadtbezirke) 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 124 Gelsenkirchen Gelsenkirchen city 2005 2009 2013 123 2017 2021 2025 122
Members The constituency has been held continuously by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) since its creation. It was first represented by Robert Geritzmann from 1949 to 1961, followed by Walter Arendt for a single term. Josef Löbbert was elected at the 1965 federal election and served three terms. Heinz Menzel then served one term from 1976 to 1980. Joachim Poß was representative from 1980 to 2017, a total of ten consecutive terms. Markus Töns succeeded him in the 2017 election. He was re-elected in 2021 and 2025.
Election Member Party % 1949 Robert Geritzmann SPD 36.5 1953 43.5 1957 47.5 1961 Walter Arendt SPD 48.6 1965 Josef Löbbert SPD 56.2 1969 58.9 1972 66.2 1976 Heinz Menzel SPD 63.0 1980 Joachim Poß SPD 59.9 1983 60.2 1987 59.4 1990 55.9 1994 59.3 1998 65.4 2002 60.3 2005 59.7 2009 54.3 2013 50.5 2017 Markus Töns SPD 38.3 2021 40.5 2025 31.4
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References