2021 Odense municipal election

All three elections, following the 2007 municipal reform, had resulted in the Social Democrats becoming the biggest party and having a majority behind them to hold the mayor position.

2021 Odense municipal election

16 November 2021
All 29 seats to the Odense Municipal Council 15 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	109,398 (65.5%) 4.5pp
First party Second party Third party   A C V Party Social Democrats Conservatives Venstre Last election 13 seats, 41.8% 3 seats, 8.6% 6 seats, 19.2% Seats won 10 6 6 Seat change 3 3 0 Popular vote 33,458 19,742 19,300 Percentage 31.3% 18.5% 18.1% Swing 10.5% 9.9% 1.1%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   F B Ø Party Green Left Danish Social Liberal Party Red–Green Alliance Last election 1 seat, 5.0% 1 seat, 4.7% 2 seats, 6.6% Seats won 2 2 2 Seat change 1 1 0 Popular vote 8,876 8,393 6,712 Percentage 8.3% 7.8% 6.3% Swing 3.3% 3.1% 0.3%   Seventh party Eighth party Ninth party   D O Å Party The New Right Danish People's Party The Alternative Last election 0 seats, 0.8% 2 seats, 6.4% 1 seat, 3.1% Seats won 1 0 0 Seat change 1 2 1 Popular vote 3,340 2,594 385 Percentage 3.1% 2.4% 0.4% Swing 2.3% 4% 2.7%
Mayor before election Peter Rahbæk Juhl Social Democrats Mayor after election Peter Rahbæk Juhl Social Democrats

The Social Democrats had won 13 seats in the last election, just 2 short of an absolute majority. Parties of the traditional red bloc had enjoyed great success in Odense Municipality, having won 17 seats in 2009, 15 in 2013 and 18 in 2017. Therefore, it was expected that they would once again win a majority, and that Peter Rahbæk Juhl would have a second term.

When all the votes were counted, the Social Democrats would suffer the biggest losses. They would lose 3 seats, and decrease their vote share by 10.5%. This trend was seen in the 4 largest municipalities. However, both the Danish Social Liberal Party and Green Left would gain a seat, and the red bloc parties would win 16 seats. A constitution was announced on 18 November 2021, which confirmed that Peter Rahbæk Juhl would continue as mayor.

Electoral system

For elections to Danish municipalities, a number varying from 9 to 31 are chosen to be elected to the municipal council. The seats are then allocated using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation. Odense Municipality had 29 seats in 2021

Unlike in Danish General Elections, in elections to municipal councils, electoral alliances are allowed.

Electoral alliances

Source

Electoral Alliance 1

Party	Political Position
Social Democrats	Centre-left
Danish Social Liberal Party	Centre to Centre-left
Green Left	Centre-left to Left-wing

Electoral Alliance 2

Party	Political Position
Vegan Party	Centre-left to Left-wing
Red–Green Alliance	Left-wing to Far-left
The Alternative	Centre-left to Left-wing

Electoral Alliance 3

Party	Political Position
Conservatives	Centre-right
Christian Democrats	Centre to Centre-right
Liberaterne	Local Party
Danish People's Party	Right-wing
Venstre	Centre-right

Electoral Alliance 4

Party	Political Position
The New Right	Right-wing
Loaklisten Nyt Odense	Local Party
Liberal Alliance	Centre-right to Right-wing
Et Bedre Odense	Local Party
De LokalNationale	Local Party

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Odense Municipality
	Social Democrats	33,458	31.30	10	-3
	Conservatives	19,742	18.47	6	+3
	Venstre	19,300	18.06	6	0
	Green Left	8,876	8.30	2	+1
	Danish Social Liberal Party	8,393	7.85	2	+1
	Red–Green Alliance	6,712	6.28	2	0
	The New Right	3,340	3.12	1	+1
	Danish People's Party	2,594	2.43	0	-2
	Liberaterne	1,269	1.19	0	New
	Liberal Alliance	1,036	0.97	0	0
	Vegan Party	483	0.45	0	New
	Christian Democrats	456	0.43	0	0
	The Alternative	385	0.36	0	-1
	Et Bedre Odense	307	0.29	0	0
	Freedom List	240	0.22	0	New
	De LokalNationale	178	0.17	0	New
	Lokalisten Nyt Odense	115	0.11	0	0
Total		106,884	100.00	29	0
Valid votes		106,884	97.70
Invalid votes		470	0.43
Blank votes		2,044	1.87
Total votes		109,398	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		166,955	65.53
Source: KMD