# Soest (electoral district)

Soest 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 145. It is located in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia, comprising the district of Soest.
Soest was created for the 1980 federal election. From 2017 to 2025, it has been represented by Hans-Jürgen Thies of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Since 2025 it is been represented by Oliver Pöpsel of the CDU.

## Geography

Soest is located in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia. As of the 2021 federal election, it is coterminous with the Soest district.

## History

Soest was created in 1980. In the 1980 through 1998 elections, it was constituency 118 in the numbering system. From 2002 through 2009, it was number 147. In the 2013 through 2021 elections, it was number 146. From the 2025 election, it has been number 145. Its borders have not changed since its creation.

## Members

The constituency has been held by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) during all but one Bundestag term since its creation. It was first represented by Hermann Kroll-Schlüter from 1980 to 1990, followed by Jürgen Augustinowitz from 1990 to 1998. Eike Hovermann of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) was elected in 1998. Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte regained it for the CDU in 2002 and served until 2017. Hans-Jürgen Thies was elected in 2017 and was re-elected in 2021. In 2025 Oliver Pöpsel was elected
| Election | Member | Party | % |
| 1980 | Hermann Kroll-Schlüter | CDU | 50.0 |
| 1983 | Hermann Kroll-Schlüter | CDU | 56.3 |
| 1987 | Hermann Kroll-Schlüter | CDU | 49.8 |
| 1990 | Jürgen Augustinowitz | CDU | 49.4 |
| 1994 | Jürgen Augustinowitz | CDU | 49.6 |
| 1998 | Eike Hovermann | SPD | 45.5 |
| 2002 | Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte | CDU | 44.2 |
| 2005 | Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte | CDU | 46.3 |
| 2009 | Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte | CDU | 45.8 |
| 2013 | Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte | CDU | 49.8 |
| 2017 | Hans-Jürgen Thies | CDU | 42.7 |
| 2021 | Hans-Jürgen Thies | CDU | 33.1 |
| 2025 | Oliver Pöpsel | CDU | 37.3 |

## Election results
### 2025 election

Federal election (2025): Soest :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | CDU | Y Oliver Pöpsel | Y Oliver Pöpsel | 70,482 | 37.3 | 4.2 | 66,360 | 35.0 | 6.0 |
| | SPD | Jens Behrens | Jens Behrens | 42,543 | 22.5 | 8.3 | 34,834 | 18.4 | 10.3 |
| | AfD | Ulrich von Zons | Ulrich von Zons | 36,667 | 19.4 | 11.5 | 35,823 | 18.9 | 10.9 |
| | Greens | Sarah Gonschorek | Sarah Gonschorek | 18,136 | 9.6 | 2.9 | 19,040 | 10.0 | 3.5 |
| | Left | Roland Linnhoff | Roland Linnhoff | 11,204 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 11,577 | 6.1 | 3.0 |
| | FDP | Fabian Griewel | Fabian Griewel | 7,447 | 3.9 | 6.1 | 7,681 | 4.1 | 7.8 |
| | BSW | | | | | | 7,393 | 3.9 | |
| | Tierschutzpartei | | | | | | 2,273 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
| | FW | Christine-Maria Hudyma | Christine-Maria Hudyma | 2,537 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 997 | 0.5 | 0.1 |
| | PARTEI | | | | | | 1,013 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| | Volt | | | | | | 908 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
| | dieBasis | | | | | 1.4 | 523 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| | PdF | | | | | | 352 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| | Team Todenhöfer | | | | | | 270 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| | BD | | | | | | 244 | 0.1 | |
| | Values | | | | | | 96 | 0.1 | |
| | MERA25 | | | | | | 46 | 0.0 | |
| | MLPD | | | | | | 35 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Pirates | | | | | | | | 0.4 |
| | Gesundheitsforschung | | | | | | | | 0.1 |
| | Bündnis C | | | | | | | | 0.1 |
| | Humanists | | | | | | | | 0.1 |
| | ÖDP | | | | | | | | 0.1 |
| | SGP | | | | | | 13 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,479 | | | 1,030 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 189,016 | | | 189,465 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 190,495 | 83.0 | | | | |
| | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 27,939 | 14.8 | 12.5 | | | |

### 2021 election

Federal election (2021): Soest :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | CDU | Y Hans-Jürgen Thies | Y Hans-Jürgen Thies | 58,791 | 33.1 | 9.5 | 51,697 | 29.1 | 7.2 |
| | SPD | Wolfgang Hellmich | Wolfgang Hellmich | 54,614 | 30.8 | 1.5 | 51,061 | 28.7 | 3.8 |
| | Greens | Shahabuddin Miah | Shahabuddin Miah | 22,154 | 12.5 | 7.0 | 24,089 | 13.5 | 7.4 |
| | FDP | Fabian Griewel | Fabian Griewel | 17,826 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 21,005 | 11.8 | 1.6 |
| | AfD | Berengar Elsner von Gronow | Berengar Elsner von Gronow | 13,992 | 7.9 | 1.0 | 14,206 | 8.0 | 1.4 |
| | Left | Helle Robert | Helle Robert | 5,548 | 3.1 | 2.5 | 5,520 | 3.1 | 3.7 |
| | Tierschutzpartei | | | | | | 2,260 | 1.3 | 0.6 |
| | dieBasis | Wolfgang Sälzer | Wolfgang Sälzer | 2,507 | 1.4 | | 2,038 | 1.1 | |
| | PARTEI | | | | | | 1,724 | 1.0 | 0.3 |
| | FW | Christine-Maria Hudyma | Christine-Maria Hudyma | 2,017 | 1.1 | | 1,176 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| | Pirates | | | | | | 666 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| | Team Todenhöfer | | | | | | 495 | 0.3 | |
| | Volt | | | | | | 327 | 0.2 | |
| | LIEBE | | | | | | 251 | 0.1 | |
| | Gesundheitsforschung | | | | | | 246 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| | LfK | | | | | | 173 | 0.1 | |
| | Bündnis C | | | | | | 159 | 0.1 | |
| | NPD | | | | | | 156 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| | Humanists | | | | | | 121 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| | ÖDP | | | | | | 118 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| | du. | | | | | | 89 | 0.1 | |
| | V-Partei3 | | | | | | 89 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| | PdF | | | | | | 73 | 0.0 | |
| | LKR | | | | | | 34 | 0.0 | |
| | DKP | | | | | | 31 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | SGP | | | | | | 13 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | MLPD | | | | | | 12 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,554 | | | 1,174 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 177,449 | | | 177,829 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 179,003 | 77.2 | 2.2 | | | |
| | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 4,177 | 2.3 | 11.0 | | | |

### 2017 election

Federal election (2017): Soest :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | CDU | Hans-Jürgen Thies | Hans-Jürgen Thies | 73,595 | 42.7 | 7.1 | 62,764 | 36.3 | 8.5 |
| | SPD | Wolfgang Hellmich | Wolfgang Hellmich | 50,458 | 29.3 | 4.1 | 43,184 | 25.0 | 5.4 |
| | AfD | Berengar Elsner von Gronow | Berengar Elsner von Gronow | 15,311 | 8.9 | | 16,165 | 9.3 | 5.9 |
| | FDP | Fabian Griewel | Fabian Griewel | 13,681 | 7.9 | 5.6 | 23,296 | 13.5 | 8.5 |
| | Left | Robert Helle | Robert Helle | 9,756 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 11,702 | 6.8 | 1.5 |
| | Greens | Shahabuddin Miah | Shahabuddin Miah | 9,459 | 5.5 | 0.5 | 10,723 | 6.2 | 0.8 |
| | Tierschutzpartei | | | | | | 1,207 | 0.7 | |
| | PARTEI | | | | | | 1,183 | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| | Pirates | | | | | | 634 | 0.4 | 1.7 |
| | FW | | | | | | 387 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| | NPD | | | | | | 310 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| | Independent | Jonathan Meier | Jonathan Meier | 232 | 0.1 | | | | |
| | AD-DEMOKRATEN | | | | | | 184 | 0.1 | |
| | DiB | | | | | | 183 | 0.1 | |
| | Gesundheitsforschung | | | | | | 176 | 0.1 | |
| | V-Partei³ | | | | | | 175 | 0.1 | |
| | BGE | | | | | | 168 | 0.1 | |
| | DM | | | | | | 168 | 0.1 | |
| | Volksabstimmung | | | | | | 159 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| | ÖDP | | | | | | 149 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| | Die Humanisten | | | | | | 78 | 0.0 | |
| | MLPD | | | | | | 40 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | DKP | | | | | | 28 | 0.0 | |
| | SGP | | | | | | 11 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,872 | | | 1,290 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 172,492 | | | 173,074 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 174,364 | 75.1 | 2.8 | | | |
| | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 23,137 | 13.4 | 3.1 | | | |

### 2013 election

Federal election (2013): Soest :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | CDU | Y Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte | Y Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte | 82,394 | 49.8 | 4.0 | 74,380 | 44.8 | 8.2 |
| | SPD | Wolfgang Hellmich | Wolfgang Hellmich | 55,127 | 33.3 | 4.1 | 50,439 | 30.4 | 4.9 |
| | Greens | Cordula Ungruh | Cordula Ungruh | 9,868 | 6.0 | 1.3 | 11,565 | 7.0 | 1.7 |
| | Left | Michael Bruns | Michael Bruns | 8,267 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 8,721 | 5.2 | 2.4 |
| | AfD | | | | | | 5,711 | 3.4 | |
| | Pirates | Sven Sladek | Sven Sladek | 3,996 | 2.4 | | 3,410 | 2.1 | 0.5 |
| | FDP | Ingo Westermann | Ingo Westermann | 3,870 | 2.3 | 7.2 | 8,218 | 4.9 | 12.0 |
| | NPD | | | 1,954 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1,321 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| | PARTEI | | | | | | 467 | 0.3 | |
| | Volksabstimmung | | | | | | 333 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| | PRO | | | | | | 330 | 0.2 | |
| | FW | | | | | | 229 | 0.1 | |
| | ÖDP | | | | | | 204 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| | REP | | | | | | 180 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| | Nichtwahler | | | | | | 192 | 0.1 | |
| | Party of Reason | | | | | | 101 | 0.1 | |
| | BIG | | | | | | 91 | 0.1 | |
| | RRP | | | | | | 86 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| | Die Rechte | | | | | | 59 | 0.0 | |
| | PSG | | | | | | 52 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | BüSo | | | | | | 32 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | MLPD | | | | | | 25 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,435 | | | 1,765 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 165,476 | | | 166,146 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 167,911 | 72.3 | 1.3 | | | |
| | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 27,267 | 16.5 | 0.1 | | | |

### 2009 election

Federal election (2009): Soest :
| Notes: | Notes: | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. | Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote. Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list. Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent. A Y or N denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively. |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Party votes | % | ±% |
| | CDU | Y Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte | Y Bernhard Schulte-Drüggelte | 74,725 | 45.8 | 0.5 | 59,805 | 36.6 | 2.5 |
| | SPD | Wolfgang Hellmich | Wolfgang Hellmich | 47,583 | 29.2 | 11.9 | 41,522 | 25.4 | 12.1 |
| | FDP | Urs Frigger | Urs Frigger | 15,625 | 9.6 | 4.8 | 27,675 | 16.9 | 6.4 |
| | Greens | Frank Hilgenkamp | Frank Hilgenkamp | 11,924 | 7.3 | 4.0 | 14,081 | 8.6 | 2.8 |
| | Left | Michael Bruns | Michael Bruns | 11,432 | 7.0 | 3.3 | 12,460 | 7.6 | 3.2 |
| | Pirates | | | | | | 2,612 | 1.6 | |
| | NPD | Harald Röhl | Harald Röhl | 1,800 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 1,324 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| | FAMILIE | | | | | | 1,037 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| | Tierschutzpartei | | | | | | 922 | 0.6 | 0.1 |
| | RENTNER | | | | | | 652 | 0.4 | |
| | REP | | | | | | 388 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| | RRP | | | | | | 315 | 0.2 | |
| | Volksabstimmung | | | | | | 149 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| | Centre | | | | | | 123 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| | DVU | | | | | | 118 | 0.1 | |
| | ÖDP | | | | | | 106 | 0.1 | |
| | BüSo | | | | | | 48 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | PSG | | | | | | 22 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | MLPD | | | | | | 13 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,204 | | | 1,921 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 163,089 | | | 163,372 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 165,293 | 61.0 | 7.3 | | | |
| | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 27,142 | 16.6 | 11.4 | | | |