The Social Democrats have maintained their position as Odense's largest political party despite a modest decline in support. Official results show the party received 29.7 percent of votes, representing a decrease of 1.6 percentage points from previous elections. This outcome preserves the party's dominant position in Denmark's third-largest city.
Mayor Peter Rahbæk Juel leads the Social Democratic administration that has governed Odense since 2017. The party has held the mayor's office almost continuously since 1937, with only one brief interruption. This historical dominance creates significant challenges for opposition parties seeking to gain ground in municipal politics.
The center-right Liberal Party (Venstre) placed second with 16.9 percent of votes, experiencing a 1.2 percentage point decline. The party underwent a leadership transition when Christoffer Lilleholt, who previously lost the mayor position, was replaced as lead candidate by his father Lars Christian Lilleholt, a national parliament member.
Lars Christian Lilleholt acknowledged the difficulty of challenging Social Democratic dominance in Odense. He stated that Mayor Juel will likely continue leading the city for another four years. Odense maintains its reputation as a left-leaning stronghold where conservative parties face structural disadvantages in local elections.
Mayor Juel expressed confidence about forming a stable governing majority. He indicated positive collaboration prospects with other parties that have supported his administration's agenda. The mayor declined to characterize the election outcome as an outright victory despite his party's continued dominance.
A notable minor candidate in the election was former Hells Angels member Jørn 'Jønke' Nielsen. He represented his newly formed Stabilt Demokrati party, which received 899 votes representing 0.8 percent of the total. This support level fell short of securing any council seats for the party.
Odense represents an interesting case in Danish municipal politics as the only major municipality where the Social Democratic mayor elected in 2021 completed their full term without interruption. This stability contrasts with political turbulence experienced in other large Danish cities during the same period.
The election results demonstrate the enduring strength of Social Democratic traditions in Odense's political culture. Voters showed limited appetite for significant political change despite modest declines for both major parties. The outcome suggests continuity rather than transformation in the city's governance approach.
International observers can view Odense as an example of stable Nordic municipal governance where established political traditions maintain strong roots. The city's political landscape reflects broader patterns seen across Scandinavian urban centers where social democratic parties often maintain strong local support bases despite national political shifts.