Once all ballot boxes had been counted, Krause secured 56.4 per cent of the vote against Reiter's 43.6 per cent. Turnout for the run-off stood at 44.5 per cent of eligible voters.
From Second Mayor to City Hall
Krause was born in Munich on 3 August 1990 and grew up in the Obermenzing district. After completing his Abitur in 2009, he completed his civil service placement at an inclusive Montessori school in Großhadern before going on to study physics at the Technical University of Munich, graduating with an MSc in Applied and Engineering Physics. His route into politics came early: from 2012 to 2014 he served as spokesperson for the Green Youth in Munich, and in 2014 he was elected to the city council at just 23. He served as Green faction leader from 2022 to 2023, and has been Munich's Second Mayor since October 2023.Those who observed him in that role noted his analytical approach. When problems arose, colleagues described how he would gather data, listen to a range of viewpoints, then make a decision and hold to it in debate. It is, they said, what allows him to bring people together and find workable compromise. When Reiter was absent for two months following an operation, Krause stepped in to run the city's affairs without incident, a period that added considerable credibility to his candidacy.
The Campaign
In the first round on 8 March, Reiter had taken 35.6 per cent of the vote to Krause's 29.5 per cent, with CSU candidate Clemens Baumgärtner in third place on 21.3 per cent. As neither of the two leading candidates cleared an outright majority, a run-off was required.Reiter's standing had been weakened in the weeks before the vote by a controversy over his handling of a paid position on the FC Bayern Munich supervisory board, which he had held for years without seeking the required approval from the city council. Under public pressure, he acknowledged the error and stepped down from the role. His campaign ran under the slogan "Munich. Reiter. Fits" and was built almost entirely around his personal profile. Krause, by contrast, campaigned on substance: above all the city's acute housing shortage and high rents, but also transport policy and climate action. He presented himself as someone focused on tangible change rather than incumbency.
The atmosphere in Munich during the final days of the campaign was notably charged. The election was discussed in neighbourhood pubs and pavement cafes alike, and a mood of appetite for change was widely reported. On the evening of the run-off, as results came in at the Green Party's celebration in the Muffathalle venue, supporters broke into chants of "Dominik, Dominik" long before the count was complete. Speaking from the stage, Krause said he intended to bring the spirit of change from the streets into the town hall, citing housing, transport and the climate as his priorities.
Reiter Concedes
Reiter conceded on Sunday evening, telling supporters the defeat was entirely his own responsibility. He announced that it was the final day of his political career and said it had been an honour to serve as lord mayor of the city for twelve years.Munich's First Gay Lord Mayor
Krause's election is notable for more than one reason. He is the first member of the Green Party to serve as Munich's lord mayor, and the first openly gay man to hold the office. He is engaged to Sebastian Müller, a doctor, whom he has described as the love of his life. The two met as teenagers in 2007 at a ballroom dancing class, and it took Krause some time to understand what he felt for his dance partner. They have been together for nineteen years and have lived in the Giesing district of Munich for over a decade. Müller proposed during a holiday in Andalusia in spring 2024, on a warm evening outside the cathedral in Granada. Should the couple marry as planned, Müller would become Munich's first-ever First Gentleman.At the victory celebration in the Muffathalle, Krause invited Müller to join him on stage, where the two kissed to a roaring crowd. Krause has spoken openly about his identity over the years, noting that the word "gay" was still used as a slur in Munich schools during his youth, and that he had not been especially proactive in coming out at the time. He took Müller to his school-leaving ball, though they did not appear there as a couple. His queer identity is, by his own account, something he regards as entirely unremarkable.
Policy Priorities
Krause has set out a clear agenda for his time in office. On housing, he has proposed converting vacant office space into residential use and has not ruled out compulsory purchase powers in extreme cases to unlock large development sites. He supports a stronger shift towards public transport and electric mobility, and has made climate neutrality a central ambition. His party's programme for the city also reflects long-standing commitments to LGBTIQ+ equality and an open, international Munich.On coalition-building, Krause indicated he would first seek talks with the existing grouping of Greens, SPD, Volt and Rosa Liste, which together hold a majority in the city council. The SPD, for its part, must now reckon with what its own defeat means for the party's future direction in the city.
