Essen 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 118. It is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the northeastern part of the city of Essen.
Essen II was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. From 2013 to 2025, it was represented by Dirk Heidenblut of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Since 2025 it has been represented by Ingo Vogel of the SPD.
Geography Essen II is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the Stadtbezirke I (Stadtmitte/Frillendorf), V (Altenessen/Karnap/Vogelheim), VI (Zollverein), and VII (Steele/Kray) from the independent city of Essen.
History Essen II was created in 1949. In the 1949 election, it was North Rhine-Westphalia constituency 31 in the numbering system. From 1953 through 1961, it was number 90. From 1965 through 1976, it was number 88. From 1980 through 1998, it was number 89. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 120. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 119. From the 2025 election, it has been number 118.
Originally, the constituency comprised the northeastern parts of the city of Essen. From 1980 through 1998, it comprised Stadtbezirke V (Altenessen/Karnap/Vogelheim), VI (Zollverein), and VII (Steele/Kray). It acquired its current borders in the 2002 election.
Election Name Borders 1949 Essen II Essen city (only northeastern parts) 1953 90 1957 1961 1965 88 1969 1972 1976 1980 89 Essen city (only V (Altenessen/Karnap/Vogelheim), VI (Zollverein), and VII (Steele/Kray) Stadtbezirke) 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 120 Essen city (only I (Stadtmitte/Frillendorf), V (Altenessen/Karnap/Vogelheim), VI (Zollverein), and VII (Steele/Kray) Stadtbezirke) 2005 2009 2013 119 2017 2021 2025 118
Members The constituency has been held continuously by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) since 1949. It was first represented by Karl Bergmann from 1949 to 1972, followed by Peter Reuschenbach from 1972 to 1994. Rolf Hempelmann served from 1994 to 2013. Dirk Heidenblut was elected in 2013, and re-elected in 2017 and 2021. Ingo Vogel was elected in 2025
Election Member Party % 1949 Karl Bergmann SPD 38.9 1953 47.5 1957 52.5 1961 53.0 1965 59.6 1969 62.3 1972 Peter Reuschenbach SPD 69.7 1976 66.3 1980 66.6 1983 63.4 1987 63.9 1990 57.6 1994 Rolf Hempelmann SPD 60.8 1998 65.3 2002 50.9 2005 58.4 2009 46.1 2013 Dirk Heidenblut SPD 48.3 2017 37.3 2021 37.8 2025 Ingo Vogel SPD 30.3
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References