Hof 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 238. It is located in northeastern Bavaria, comprising the city of Hof and the districts of Landkreis Hof and Wunsiedel.
Hof was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. Since 2025, it has been represented by Heiko Hain of the Christian Social Union (CSU).
Geography Hof is located in northeastern Bavaria. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the independent city of Hof, the Wunsiedel district, and the entirety of the Hof district excluding the municipality of Geroldsgrün.
History Hof was created in 1949. In the 1949 election, it was Bavaria constituency 28 in the numbering system. In the 1953 through 1961 elections, it was number 223. In the 1965 through 1998 elections, it was number 225. In the 2002 and 2005 elections, it was number 240. In the 2009 through 2021 elections, it was number 239. From the 2025 election, it has been number 238.
Originally, the constituency comprised the independent cities of Hof and Selb and the districts of Landkreis Hof, Münchberg, and Rehau. In the 1965 through 1972 elections, it also contained the Naila district. In the 1976 through 2013 elections, it comprised the city of Hof and the districts of Landkreis Hof and Wunsiedel. It lost the municipality of Geroldsgrün in the 2017 election.
Election Name Borders 1949 Hof Hof city Selb city Landkreis Hof district Münchberg district Rehau district 1953 223 1957 1961 1965 225 Hof city Selb city Landkreis Hof district Münchberg district Rehau district Naila district 1969 1972 1976 Hof city Landkreis Hof district Wunsiedel district 1980 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 240 2005 2009 239 2013 2017 Hof city Landkreis Hof district (excluding Geroldsgrün municipality) Wunsiedel district 2021 2025 238
Members The constituency was first represented by Arno Behrisch of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) from 1949 to 1953. Heinz Starke won it in 1953; he was elected for the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with the endorsement of the Christian Social Union (CSU). Gerhard Wacher of the CSU was elected in 1957 and served until 1961. Martin Hirsch of the SPD won the constituency in 1961 and served three terms. He was succeeded by Hans Büchler from 1972 to 1983. Jürgen Warnke of the CSU then served from 1983 to 1998, when Petra Ernstberger of the SPD was elected. Hans-Peter Friedrich of the CSU was elected in 2002, and re-elected in 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021. Heiko Hain retained the seat for the CSU in 2025.
Election Member Party % 1949 Arno Behrisch SPD 35.0 1953 Heinz Starke FDP 44.6 1957 Gerhard Wacher CSU 46.5 1961 Martin Hirsch SPD 44.0 1965 46.8 1969 45.8 1972 Hans Büchler SPD 52.0 1976 48.7 1980 48.3 1983 Jürgen Warnke CSU 54.2 1987 51.5 1990 52.1 1994 50.4 1998 Petra Ernstberger SPD 49.5 2002 Hans-Peter Friedrich CSU 53.6 2005 50.1 2009 46.5 2013 55.1 2017 47.0 2021 41.2 2025 Heiko Hain CSU 40.4
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References