Mülheim – Essen I 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 117. It is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the city of Mülheim and northwestern parts of the city of Essen.
Mülheim – Essen I was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. Since 2021, it has been represented by Sebastian Fiedler of the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Geography Mülheim – Essen I is located in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the independent city of Mülheim and the Stadtbezirk IV (Borbeck) from the independent city of Essen.
History Mülheim – Essen I was created in 1949, then known as Mülheim. It acquired its current name in the 2002 election. In the 1949 election, it was North Rhine-Westphalia constituency 29 in the numbering system. From 1953 through 1961, it was number 88. From 1965 through 1976, it was number 86. From 1980 through 1998, it was number 87. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 119. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 118. From the 2025 election, it has been number 117.
Originally, the constituency comprised only the city of Mülheim. In the 2002 election, it acquired Stadtbezirk IV (Borbeck) from the city of Essen.
Election Name Borders 1949 Mülheim Mülheim city 1953 88 1957 1961 1965 86 1969 1972 1976 1980 87 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 119 Mülheim – Essen I Mülheim city Essen city (only IV (Borbeck) Stadtbezirk) 2005 2009 2013 118 2017 2021 2025 117
Members The constituency has been held by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) during all but two Bundestag terms since 1949. It was first represented by Otto Striebeck of the SPD from 1949 to 1953, followed by Gisela Praetorius of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) for a single term. Fellow CDU member Max Vehar then served from 1957 to 1961, before former member Striebeck regained the constituency for the SPD. Willi Müller of the SPD was representative from 1965 to 1980, when he was succeeded by Thomas Schröer. Dieter Schloten served from 1990 to 2002, followed by Anton Schaaf until 2013. Arno Klare was elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. He was succeeded by Sebastian Fiedler in 2021 and re-elected in 2025.
Election Member Party % 1949 Otto Striebeck SPD 34.9 1953 Gisela Praetorius CDU 42.6 1957 Max Vehar CDU 45.5 1961 Otto Striebeck SPD 48.1 1965 Willi Müller SPD 52.6 1969 57.5 1972 63.0 1976 58.0 1980 Thomas Schröer SPD 56.5 1983 54.1 1987 51.7 1990 Dieter Schloten SPD 46.7 1994 49.8 1998 57.5 2002 Anton Schaaf SPD 53.5 2005 52.6 2009 41.4 2013 Arno Klare SPD 42.2 2017 34.9 2021 Sebastian Fiedler SPD 36.32025 32.6
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References