Paris Mayoral Election Heads to Runoff Amidst Candidate Withdrawals
The Paris mayoral election is heading to a second round on March 22, 2026, after a series of strategic withdrawals reshaped the political landscape. The race now features three key candidates: Emmanuel Grégoire, Rachida Dati, and Sophia Chikirou.
First Round Results and Subsequent Shifts
The first round of voting, held on March 15, 2026, saw Emmanuel Grégoire (socialist) leading with 37.98% of the vote. Rachida Dati (Les Républicains) secured 25.46%, followed by Sophia Chikirou (La France Insoumise) with 11.72%. Pierre-Yves Bournazel (Horizons) received 11.34%, and Sarah Knafo (Reconquête!) garnered 10.40%.
Following the first round, significant changes occurred. Pierre-Yves Bournazel merged his list with Rachida Dati’s and subsequently withdrew from the race. Sarah Knafo similarly announced her withdrawal on March 16, stating her decision was aimed at maximizing the chances of defeating the left-wing candidates. She clarified that her withdrawal was not an endorsement of Dati, but a strategic move for the city of Paris.1
Candidate Positions and Reactions
Rachida Dati welcomed Knafo’s withdrawal as a “strong” and “responsible” gesture, noting the rarity of such decisions in politics.2 She emphasized potential areas of convergence between her program and Knafo’s.3
Despite withdrawing from the mayoral race, Sarah Knafo secured a seat on the 16th arrondissement council with three of her running mates, having achieved 22.53% of the vote in that district.1
Arrondissement Elections: Key Results
In addition to the mayoral race, several arrondissement (district) mayors were re-elected in the first round. Rachida Dati was re-elected in the 7th arrondissement with 58.77% of the vote. Jérémy Redler (union of the right and center) was re-elected in the 16th arrondissement with 50.62%, narrowly defeating Knafo’s list. Jérôme Coumet (left-wing coalition) was re-elected in the 13th arrondissement with 51.52%.4
Several other arrondissements remain contested, including Paris-Centre, the 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 8th, 10th, 18th, 19th, and 20th, where second-round votes will determine the outcome.
Looking Ahead to the Second Round
The second round on March 22nd will pit Emmanuel Grégoire against Rachida Dati and Sophia Chikirou. The withdrawals of Bournazel and Knafo are expected to influence the distribution of votes, making the outcome highly uncertain. The election will determine the future leadership of Paris and the direction of the city’s policies.