Belit Onay, the incumbent Green mayor since 2019, secured 45.6 percent in the first round of the Hannover mayoral election on September 13, advancing to a September 27 runoff against SPD challenger Axel von der Ohe, who received 21.5 percent. Other candidates, including the CDU's Peter Karst at 14.1 percent and the AfD's Jessica Schülke at 10.8 percent, trailed further behind. Onay's commanding position stems from his established record on local priorities such as mobility transitions, climate measures, and urban development, combined with the Greens' solid performance in the concurrent council vote. The runoff format, requiring only a simple majority, amplifies the frontrunner's advantage given the initial gap. A significant upset would require unusually low turnout favoring the challenger or major late shifts in voter coalitions, though no such developments have emerged in the days since the first round.