Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis 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 138. It is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the northern part of the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district.
Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis II was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. From 2021 to 2025, it has been represented by Axel Echeverria of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Since 2025 it has been represented by Katja Strauss-Köster of the CDU.
Geography Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis II is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the municipalities of Hattingen, Herdecke, Sprockhövel, Wetter (Ruhr), and Witten from the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district.
History Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis II was created in 1949, then known as Ennepe-Ruhr – Witten. From 1965 through 1976, it was named Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis. From 1980 through 1998, it was named Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis I. It acquired its current name in the 2002 election. In the 1949 election, it was North Rhine-Westphalia constituency 54 in the numbering system. From 1953 through 1961, it was number 113. From 1965 through 1976, it was number 112. From 1980 through 1998, it was number 109. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 140. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 139. From the 2025 election, it has been number 138.
Originally, the constituency comprised the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district and the independent city of Witten. From 1965 through 1976, it was coterminous with the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district. From 1980 through 1998, it comprised the entirety of the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district excluding Witten. It acquired its current borders in the 2002 election.
Election Name Borders 1949 Ennepe-Ruhr – Witten Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district Witten city 1953 113 1957 1961 1965 112 Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district 1969 1972 1976 1980 109 Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis I Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district (excluding Witten municipality) 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 140 Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis II Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis district (only Hattingen, Herdecke, Sprockhövel, Wetter (Ruhr), and Witten municipalities) 2005 2009 2013 139 2017 2021 2025 138
Members The constituency has been held continuously by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) since its creation. It was first represented by Walter Freitag 1949 to 1953, followed by Heinrich Sträter until 1961. Wilhelm Michels was elected in 1961 and served until 1972. He was succeeded by Hans-Jürgen Augstein, who served two terms. Eugen von der Wiesche was then representative from 1980 to 1990. Adolf Ostertag served until 2002, followed by Christel Humme from 2002 to 2013. Ralf Kapschack was elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. He was succeeded by Axel Echeverria in 2021. In 2025, after 76 years of SPD representation, Katja Strauss-Köster of the CDU was elected.
Election Member Party % 1949 Walter Freitag SPD 40.5 1953 Heinrich Sträter SPD 43.1 1957 46.2 1961 Wilhelm Michels SPD 49.4 1965 53.2 1969 56.0 1972 Hans-Jürgen Augstein SPD 59.8 1976 54.7 1980 Eugen von der Wiesche SPD 54.0 1983 50.4 1987 50.8 1990 Adolf Ostertag SPD 48.5 1994 52.1 1998 57.1 2002 Christel Humme SPD 55.7 2005 52.4 2009 40.9 2013 Ralf Kapschack SPD 42.3 2017 36.7 2021 Axel Echeverria SPD 35.4 2025 Katja Strauss-Köster CDU 30.9
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
Notes
References