No surprise in the district elections in the Main-Kinzig district: the established Social Democratic incumbent Thorsten Stolz easily left Gabriele Stenger behind.
The candidate from the CDU, the only one who dared to challenge the favorites, can still go out of this election campaign with her head held high.
The fact that the election campaign was short and painless, but also somewhat boring, did not promote the usually low turnout.
This time there were only two applicants who didn't want to push each other's carts.
People didn't rub shoulders with each other, but rather worked on the issues, from the usual transport projects to the nursing shortage and the housing shortage to education and health policy and economic development.
This is how politics can be in these times, democratic, fair and without tricks.
Big coalition
Both made every effort to score points with the voters without hitting their comrade-in-arms.
On the one hand, this was due to the nature of both candidates, who, although committed, tended to appear with rather moderate tones.
But there was another reason to take it easy on the enemy: a large coalition governed successfully at district level, and the good spirit of the coalition was not to be damaged.
This election campaign primarily benefited the political culture in the district.
Especially within the CDU, the waves seem to have calmed down.
The party leadership demonstratively backed their candidate, happy to have found a suitable person.
Because none of the incumbents had to dare to take the step and jeopardize their position in the state or federal parliament.
Gabriele Stenger is neither a political heavyweight nor an applicant with administrative experience.
But with her candidacy she offered voters a democratic alternative.
That was important, but their commitment was certainly not entirely selfless.
The candidate should have gained some sympathy points with her courteous manner and gained notoriety and experience.
That could qualify her for other party posts if she has ambitions.
At the district level, things can now continue as usual.
That's good, because difficult tasks await the partners.