# Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis

Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis 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 194. It is located in eastern Thuringia, comprising the districts of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Saale-Holzland-Kreis, and Saale-Orla-Kreis.
Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis was created for the 2002 federal election. Since 2021, it has been represented by Michael Kaufmann of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

## Geography

Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis is located in eastern Thuringia. As of the 2021 federal election, it comprises the districts of Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, Saale-Holzland-Kreis, and Saale-Orla-Kreis.

## History

Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis was created in 2002, then known as Sonneberg – Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Orla-Kreis. It acquired its current name in the 2017 election. In the 2002 election, it was constituency 198 in the numbering system. In the 2005 election, it was number 197. In the 2009 and 2013 elections, it was number 196. In the 2017 and 2021 elections, it was number 195. From the 2025 election, it has been number 194.
Originally, the constituency comprised the districts of Sonneberg, Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, and Saale-Orla-Kreis. It acquired its current borders in the 2017 election.
| Election | No. | Name | Borders |
| 2002 | 198 | Sonneberg – Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Orla-Kreis | Sonneberg district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district Saale-Orla-Kreis district |
| 2005 | 197 | Sonneberg – Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Orla-Kreis | Sonneberg district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district Saale-Orla-Kreis district |
| 2009 | 196 | Sonneberg – Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Orla-Kreis | Sonneberg district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district Saale-Orla-Kreis district |
| 2013 | 196 | Sonneberg – Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Orla-Kreis | Sonneberg district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district Saale-Orla-Kreis district |
| 2017 | 195 | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district Saale-Holzland-Kreis district Saale-Orla-Kreis district |
| 2021 | 195 | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district Saale-Holzland-Kreis district Saale-Orla-Kreis district |
| 2025 | 194 | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis | Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district Saale-Holzland-Kreis district Saale-Orla-Kreis district |

## Members

The constituency was first represented by Christine Lehder of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) from 2002 to 2005, followed by Gerhard Botz of the SPD from 2005 to 2009. Carola Stauche of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was representative from 2009 to 2017. Albert Weiler was elected in the 2017 election. The constituency was won by Michael Kaufmann of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in 2021.
| Election | Member | Party | % |
| 2002 | Christine Lehder | SPD | 41.6 |
| 2005 | Gerhard Botz | SPD | 30.2 |
| 2009 | Carola Stauche | CDU | 31.9 |
| 2013 | Carola Stauche | CDU | 41.1 |
| 2017 | Albert Weiler | CDU | 30.9 |
| 2021 | Michael Kaufmann | AfD | 29.3 |

## Election results
### 2025 election

Federal election (2025): Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis :
| 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 | % | ±% |
| | AfD | Y Michael Kaufmann | Y Michael Kaufmann | 76,207 | 44.5 | 15.2 | 73,580 | 42.9 | 14.7 |
| | CDU | Diana Herbstreuth | Diana Herbstreuth | 35,224 | 20.6 | 0.4 | 30,756 | 17.9 | 1.5 |
| | Left | Mandy Eißing | Mandy Eißing | 21,113 | 12.3 | 0.2 | 23,080 | 13.5 | 2.2 |
| | BSW | Jörg Lohse | Jörg Lohse | 12,413 | 7.2 | New | 17,012 | 9.9 | New |
| | SPD | Bastian Dohna | Bastian Dohna | 14,260 | 8.3 | 10.4 | 12,905 | 7.5 | 13.7 |
| | Greens | Astrid Matthey | Astrid Matthey | 4,340 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 5,055 | 2.9 | 1.5 |
| | FDP | Manuel Matzner | Manuel Matzner | 3,834 | 2.2 | 5.3 | 4,811 | 2.8 | 6.6 |
| | FW | Franz Gobel | Franz Gobel | 3,943 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 2,822 | 1.6 | 0.8 |
| | Volt | | | | | | 773 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
| | BD | | | | | | 470 | 0.3 | New |
| | MLPD | | | | | | 176 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,267 | | | 1,161 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 171,334 | | | 171,440 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 172,601 | 81.6 | 5.7 | | | |
| | AfD hold | AfD hold | Majority | 40,983 | 23.9 | 15.6 | | | |

### 2021 election

Federal election (2021): Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis :
| 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 | % | ±% |
| | AfD | Michael Kaufmann | Michael Kaufmann | 48,177 | 29.3 | 2.8 | 46,381 | 28.2 | 2.4 |
| | CDU | N Albert Weiler | N Albert Weiler | 34,489 | 21.0 | 10.0 | 27,008 | 16.4 | 11.8 |
| | SPD | Cordelius Ilgmann | Cordelius Ilgmann | 30,791 | 18.7 | 7.1 | 35,019 | 21.3 | 9.2 |
| | Left | Frank Tempel | Frank Tempel | 19,968 | 12.1 | 5.0 | 18,489 | 11.2 | 5.3 |
| | FDP | Reginald Hanke | Reginald Hanke | 12,343 | 7.5 | 1.4 | 15,428 | 9.4 | 1.6 |
| | Greens | Susanne Martin | Susanne Martin | 6,292 | 3.8 | 0.4 | 7,383 | 4.5 | 1.5 |
| | FW | Torsten Heilmann | Torsten Heilmann | 5,143 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 4,079 | 2.5 | 0.5 |
| | PARTEI | Gerry Fiedler | Gerry Fiedler | 3,526 | 2.1 | | 2,283 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
| | dieBasis | Saskia Graupe | Saskia Graupe | 2,852 | 1.7 | | 2,668 | 1.6 | |
| | Tierschutzpartei | | | | | | 2,510 | 1.5 | |
| | Pirates | | | | | | 645 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| | NPD | | | | | | 547 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| | Menschliche Welt | | | | | | 493 | 0.3 | |
| | Volt | | | | | | 388 | 0.2 | |
| | Team Todenhöfer | | | | | | 374 | 0.2 | |
| | MLPD | Janine Walter-Rupprecht | Janine Walter-Rupprecht | 462 | 0.3 | | 338 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| | ÖDP | Michael Gehrmann-Gacasa | Michael Gehrmann-Gacasa | 451 | 0.3 | | 293 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| | Humanists | | | | | | 152 | 0.1 | |
| | V-Partei3 | | | | | | 145 | 0.1 | 0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,037 | | | 1,908 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 164,494 | | | 164,623 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 166,531 | 75.9 | 0.8 | | | |
| | AfD gain from CDU | AfD gain from CDU | Majority | 13,688 | 8.3 | | | | |

### 2017 election

Federal election (2017): Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Holzland-Kreis – Saale-Orla-Kreis :
| 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 | Albert Weiler | Albert Weiler | 52,311 | 30.9 | 10.3 | 47,769 | 28.1 | 10.1 |
| | AfD | Michael Kaufmann | Michael Kaufmann | 44,894 | 26.5 | 24.7 | 43,740 | 25.8 | 18.6 |
| | Left | Ralf Kalich | Ralf Kalich | 28,926 | 17.1 | 8.4 | 28,088 | 16.5 | 7.8 |
| | SPD | Alexander Meinhardt-Heib | Alexander Meinhardt-Heib | 19,753 | 11.7 | 7.1 | 20,427 | 12.0 | 3.2 |
| | FDP | Reginald Hanke | Reginald Hanke | 10,323 | 6.1 | 3.9 | 13,209 | 7.8 | 5.2 |
| | Greens | Stephanie Erben | Stephanie Erben | 5,726 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 5,124 | 3.0 | 1.0 |
| | FW | Jens Streubel | Jens Streubel | 5,717 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 3,300 | 1.9 | 0.5 |
| | PARTEI | | | | | | 2,494 | 1.5 | |
| | NPD | | | | | | 2,083 | 1.2 | 2.4 |
| | Independent | Wilfried Meißner | Wilfried Meißner | 923 | 0.5 | | | | |
| | Independent | Günter Metzler | Günter Metzler | 779 | 0.5 | | | | |
| | Pirates | | | | | | 736 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
| | ÖDP | | | | | | 733 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| | DM | | | | | | 729 | 0.4 | |
| | BGE | | | | | | 654 | 0.4 | |
| | V-Partei³ | | | | | | 425 | 0.3 | |
| | MLPD | | | | | | 240 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,527 | | | 2,128 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 169,352 | | | 169,751 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 171,879 | 75.0 | 5.9 | | | |
| | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 7,417 | 4.4 | 10.3 | | | |

### 2013 election

Federal election (2013): Sonneberg – Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Orla-Kreis :
| 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 Carola Stauche | Y Carola Stauche | 59,153 | 41.1 | 9.3 | 54,859 | 37.9 | 7.5 |
| | Left | Knut Korschewsky | Knut Korschewsky | 37,908 | 26.4 | 4.9 | 35,819 | 24.8 | 6.1 |
| | SPD | Christoph Majewski | Christoph Majewski | 28,521 | 19.8 | 0.9 | 23,002 | 15.9 | 1.1 |
| | AfD | | | | | | 9,807 | 6.8 | |
| | NPD | Uwe Bäz-Dölle | Uwe Bäz-Dölle | 7,440 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 5,292 | 3.7 | 0.4 |
| | Greens | Stephanie Erben | Stephanie Erben | 5,674 | 3.9 | 0.1 | 5,442 | 3.8 | 0.8 |
| | FDP | Alf-Heinz Borchardt | Alf-Heinz Borchardt | 3,279 | 2.3 | 6.3 | 3,552 | 2.5 | 7.3 |
| | Pirates | | | | | | 3,231 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| | FW | | | | | | 2,065 | 1.4 | |
| | Independent | Meißner | Meißner | 1,053 | 0.7 | | | | |
| | ÖDP | | | | | | 895 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| | MLPD | | | 835 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 349 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| | REP | | | | | | 343 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,177 | | | 2,384 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 143,863 | | | 144,656 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 147,040 | 67.3 | 2.9 | | | |
| | CDU hold | CDU hold | Majority | 21,245 | 14.7 | 14.0 | | | |

### 2009 election

Federal election (2009): Sonneberg – Saalfeld-Rudolstadt – Saale-Orla-Kreis :
| 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 | Carola Stauche | Carola Stauche | 46,726 | 31.9 | 5.5 | 44,770 | 30.4 | 5.5 |
| | Left | Norbert Schneider | Norbert Schneider | 45,820 | 31.2 | 5.3 | 45,439 | 30.9 | 3.1 |
| | SPD | Anette Feike | Anette Feike | 27,824 | 19.0 | 11.2 | 25,004 | 17.0 | 12.4 |
| | FDP | Volker Weber | Volker Weber | 12,534 | 8.5 | 3.6 | 14,342 | 9.8 | 2.3 |
| | NPD | Patrick Trautsch | Patrick Trautsch | 6,574 | 4.5 | 0.3 | 5,978 | 4.1 | 0.5 |
| | Greens | Filip Heinlein | Filip Heinlein | 5,684 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 6,654 | 4.5 | 0.9 |
| | Pirates | | | | | | 3,340 | 2.3 | |
| | Independent | Arthur Wolfram Krauß | Arthur Wolfram Krauß | 934 | 0.6 | | | | |
| | REP | | | | | | 615 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| | ÖDP | | | | | | 557 | 0.4 | |
| | MLPD | Andreas Eifler | Andreas Eifler | 582 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 395 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,261 | | | 1,845 | | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 146,678 | | | 147,094 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 148,939 | 64.4 | 11.1 | | | |
| | CDU gain from SPD | CDU gain from SPD | Majority | 906 | 0.7 | | | | |