Münster 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 128. It is located in northern North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the city of Münster.
Münster was created for the inaugural 1949 federal election. From 2021 to 2025, it has been represented by Maria Klein-Schmeink of the Alliance 90/The Greens. Since 2025 it is represented by Sylvia Rietenberg of the Alliance 90/The Greens.
Geography Münster is located in northern North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it is coterminous with the independent city of Münster.
History Münster was created in 1949, then known as Münster-Stadt und -Land. It acquired its current name in the 1965 election. In the 1949 election, it was North Rhine-Westphalia constituency 38 in the numbering system. From 1953 through 1961, it was number 97. From 1965 through 1976, it was number 95. From 1980 through 1998, it was number 99. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 130. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 129. From the 2025 election, it has been number 128.
Originally, the constituency comprised the city of Münster and the Landkreis Münster district. From 1965 through 1976, it comprised the city of Münster and the municipalities of Amelsbüren, Handorf, Hiltrup, and St. Mauritz from the Landkreis Münster district. Since the 1980 election, it has been coterminous with the city of Münster.
Election Name Borders 1949 Münster-Stadt und -Land Münster city Landkreis Münster district 1953 97 1957 1961 1965 95 Münster Münster city Landkreis Münster district (only Amelsbüren, Handorf, Hiltrup, and St. Mauritz municipalities) 1969 1972 1976 1980 99 Münster city 1983 1987 1990 1994 1998 2002 130 2005 2009 2013 129 2017 2021 2025 128
Members The constituency has been held by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) during all but two Bundestag terms since 1949. It was first represented by Peter Nellen of the CDU from 1949 to 1961, followed by Hermann Diebäcker for two terms and Franz Berding for one. Friedrich-Adolf Jahn was then representative from 1972 to 1994. He was succeeded by Ruprecht Polenz from 1994 to 2002. Christoph Strässer of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2005, but former member Polenz regained the constituency for the CDU in 2009. Sybille Benning was elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. Maria Klein-Schmeink was elected for the Greens in 2021. Sylvia Rietenberg was elected for the Greens in 2025.
Election Member Party % 1949 Peter Nellen CDU 34.6 1953 67.8 1957 64.8 1961 Hermann Diebäcker CDU 50.0 1965 57.0 1969 Franz Berding CDU 49.5 1972 Friedrich-Adolf Jahn CDU 48.4 1976 51.0 1980 47.6 1983 51.8 1987 45.2 1990 42.7 1994 Ruprecht Polenz CDU 44.0 1998 44.2 2002 Christoph Strässer SPD 40.8 2005 41.7 2009 Ruprecht Polenz CDU 39.3 2013 Sybille Benning CDU 38.8 2017 37.2 2021 Maria Klein-Schmeink GRÜNE 32.3 2025 Sylvia Rietenberg GRÜNE 31.2
Election results 2025 election
2021 election
2017 election
2013 election
2009 election
2005 election
References