1995 North Rhine-Westphalia state election

1995 North Rhine-Westphalia state election

← 1990 14 May 1995 2000 →
All 221 seats in the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, including 20 overhang and leveling seats 111 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	8,353,056 (64.0% 7.7pp)
First party Second party   Candidate Johannes Rau Helmut Linssen Party SPD CDU Last election 122 seats, 50.0% 89 seats, 36.7% Seats won 108 89 Seat change 14 0 Popular vote 3,816,639 3,124,758 Percentage 46.0% 37.7% Swing 4.0pp 1.0pp   Third party Fourth party   Candidate Bärbel Höhn Achim Rohde Party Greens FDP Last election 12 seats, 5.0% 14 seats, 6.0% Seats won 24 0 Seat change 12 14 Popular vote 830,861 332,634 Percentage 10.0% 4.0% Swing 5.0pp 1.8pp
Results for the single-member constituencies.
Government before election Fourth Rau cabinet SPD Government after election Fifth Rau cabinet SPD–Green

The 1995 North Rhine-Westphalia state election was held on 14 May 1995 to elect the 12th Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia. The outgoing government was a majority of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Minister-President Johannes Rau.

The SPD remained the largest party but lost its majority for the first time since 1980, declining to 46%. The opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) made small gains and took 37.7% of the vote. The Greens achieved a significant victory, doubling their vote share to 10% and winning 24 seats. Since the Free Democratic Party (FDP) fell below the 5% electoral threshold and lost representation, the Greens alone held the balance of power. They subsequently formed a coalition with the SPD.