2026 French Elections: Tight Races & Multiple Candidates Head to Runoffs in Several Cities

by Daniel Perez - News Editor
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Tight Races and a Septangular in Saint-Jean-de-Védas: First Round of Municipal Elections 2026

The first round of municipal elections in Saint-Jean-de-Védas, Hérault, concluded on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with a crowded field of candidates vying for the mayoralty. No candidate secured a majority, setting the stage for a second round on March 22, 2026, featuring seven lists that each garnered over 10% of the vote.

A Seven-Way Contest

The unexpected death of the previous mayor, François Rio, in December 2025, has contributed to a fractured political landscape in the commune, according to La Montagne. This has resulted in a highly competitive race with seven lists qualifying for the second round.

First Round Results

Here’s a breakdown of the results from the first round, as reported by Le Parisien and Info Occitanie:

  • Patrick HIVIN (EN AVANT SAINT JEAN): 20.04%
  • Emmanuelle MYSONA (AIMER SAINT-JEAN ENSEMBLE): 16.03%
  • Christophe VAN LEYNSEELE (DANS LES PAS DE FRANÇOIS RIO): 14.08%
  • Michel MASSON (AGIR POUR SAINT JEAN): 13.68%
  • Richard PLAUTIN (ENSEMBLE POUR LES VEDASIENS): 13.15%
  • Florian DEPRET (POUR SAINT JEAN): 12.25%
  • Philippe HIPPERT (Le Collectif Védasien): 10.81%

Candidates have until Tuesday at 6 p.m. To submit their lists for the second round.

Other Municipal Elections in France

Similar multi-candidate scenarios are unfolding in other French cities. In Mulhouse, a six-way contest is anticipated, with six lists exceeding the 10% threshold. In Poitiers, the incumbent environmentalist mayor, Léonore Moncond’huy, faces a strong challenge, with five other lists similarly qualifying for the second round.

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