French Voters Choose Mayors in Key Cities, Testing Far-Right Strength

French voters are heading to the polls on Sunday, March 22, 2026, to elect mayors in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and over 1,500 other cities and towns across the country. These municipal runoffs serve as a crucial test for the far-right National Rally (RN) and mainstream parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election .

Mayors: France’s Most Trusted Officials

With nearly 35,000 municipalities, from large cities to small villages, mayors hold a uniquely trusted position in French society . Many candidates secured enough votes in the first round last Sunday to win outright, but tight races in major cities are now heading to these decisive runoff elections.

Key Battles in Major Cities

Paris

The race for Paris mayor is particularly closely watched. Emmanuel Grégoire, leading a left and green coalition, finished first in the opening round with 37.98% of the vote. Conservative Rachida Dati followed with 25.46%, and Sophia Chikirou of La France Insoumise remains in contention, creating a volatile three-way contest .

Marseille

Marseille, France’s second-largest city, is another key battleground. Incumbent left-wing Mayor Benoît Payan led with 36.70% in the first round, narrowly ahead of far-right candidate Franck Allisio with 35.02%. Martine Vassal of the right is also still in the running . The withdrawal of hard-left candidate Sebastien Delogu from the runoff has been seen as a strategic move to consolidate the left’s vote and prevent a National Rally victory.

Lyon

In Lyon, the runoff is a direct duel between ecologist incumbent Grégory Doucet (37.36% in the first round) and centrist challenger Jean-Michel Aulas (36.78%) .

A Test for the Far-Right

The anti-immigration, eurosceptic National Rally has historically struggled to gain significant traction in municipal elections. Even as the first round yielded mixed results – with some re-elections but limited major gains beyond its traditional strongholds – the party is hoping to demonstrate increased territorial integration .

In Nice, Eric Ciotti, an ally of Marine Le Pen’s party, is expected to win against a candidate backed by the center.

Voter Sentiment

Voters express a range of motivations. Alain Faiola, a retiree in Marseille, stated he was voting for the RN after previously supporting the mainstream right, citing a desire for change . Conversely, Nezha Bourray, a first-time voter in Marseille, said she voted for the left to block the far-right .

Voting began at 8 a.m. And will conclude between 6 p.m. And 8 p.m., with results expected to emerge throughout the evening.