Dominik Krause becomes Munich’s first openly gay Green mayor
March 25, 2026Munich has elected Dominik Krause of the Green Party as its new mayor, marking a historic moment for both the city and Germany’s LGBTQ+ community.
Krause, 35, secured victory in the run-off election with 56.4% of the vote, defeating former Social Democratic Party (SPD) mayor Dieter Reiter. It is the first time that the Greens and an openly gay politician have taken the helm at Munich’s City Hall, Attitude reports.
In his victory speech, Krause publicly thanked his fiancé, Sebastian Müller, referring to him as “the love of my life, without whom all of this would not have been possible,” before the couple celebrated with a kiss. The gesture was widely noted as a visible affirmation of LGBTQ+ equality in one of Germany’s most prominent cities.
On Instagram, Krause addressed supporters, writing: “Munich, you are simply insane! Our town has chosen to break the dawn today. Thank you for this incredible trust. Let’s get it on!”
Krause has served on Munich’s city council since 2014 and was elected Second Mayor in 2023, making him one of the youngest people to hold that office. He is known as a pragmatic Green politician whose work has centred on climate protection, sustainable urban development, digitalisation, social policy, and education.
Addressing perceptions of his age on his official website, Krause notes that while he is often described as a “young mayor,” he brings more than a decade of experience in municipal politics. “What matters is who has the best ideas, and the will to give Munich the urgently needed push for modernisation,” he explains.
As mayor, Krause has identified his key priorities as securing affordable housing, advancing a progressive transport transition, strengthening climate action, and promoting an open and cosmopolitan Munich that explicitly stands for diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Krause and Müller first met at a dance school in 2007, beginning a friendship that later developed into a long-term relationship. The couple became engaged in 2024 and plan to marry in the near future.