Openly gay Green Party politician Dominik Krause elected as Munich Mayor, kisses fiancée to celebrate win

Krause created history on Sunday by defeating long-time Social Democratic Party (SPD) incumbent Dieter Reiter, securing 56.4% of the vote against Reiter’s 43.6%, according to provisional results.

The victory is particularly significant as Munich has largely been dominated by the SPD, which has held power almost continuously since 1948, except for a brief period between 1978 and 1984.

Marking a major LGBTQ+ moment in German politics, Krause celebrated his win with a public kiss with his fiancé, drawing widespread attention.

Following his victory, the 35-year-old wrote on Instagram, “Munich, you are simply incredible! Today, our city voted for a fresh start. Thank you for this incredible trust. Let’s get to work!”

Who is Dominik Krause?

The 35-year-old physicist has been a member of the Munich City Council since 2014. He rose to prominence when he was elected Second Mayor in 2023, becoming one of the youngest leaders to hold the position.

On his official website, Krause noted that he joined the Green Party in 2014.

He wrote: "I joined the Green Party and was elected to the Munich City Council in 2014. Since that same year, I have also been the deputy chair of Munich is Colourful. Protecting our democracy is my greatest motivation for being politically active. Munich is a cosmopolitan, diverse, and socially conscious city. I will always advocate for this wholeheartedly."

He is widely regarded as a pragmatic Green politician, with a focus on climate protection, sustainable urban development, digitalisation, social policy, and education.

His love Life

Krause met his long-term partner, Müller, at a dance school in 2007. The couple now lives together in Munich’s Giesing district.

Speaking about his personal life, Krause shared that they enjoy spending time in the Werksviertel district or along the Isar River.

The couple got engaged in 2024.