2000 North Rhine-Westphalia state election

2000 North Rhine-Westphalia state election

← 1995 14 May 2000 2005 →
All 231 seats in the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, including 20 overhang and leveling seats 116 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	7,409,399 (56.7% 7.3pp)
First party Second party   Candidate Wolfgang Clement Jürgen Rüttgers Party SPD CDU Last election 108 seats, 46.0% 89 seats, 37.7% Seats won 102 88 Seat change 6 1 Popular vote 3,143,179 2,712,176 Percentage 42.8% 37.0% Swing 3.2pp 0.7pp   Third party Fourth party   Candidate Jürgen Möllemann Bärbel Höhn Party FDP Greens Last election 0 seats, 4.0% 24 seats, 10.0% Seats won 24 17 Seat change 24 7 Popular vote 721,558 518,295 Percentage 9.8% 7.1% Swing 5.8pp 2.9pp
Results for the single-member constituencies.
Government before election First Clement cabinet SPD–Green Government after election Second Clement cabinet SPD–Green

The 2000 North Rhine-Westphalia state election was held on 14 May 2000 to elect the 13th Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia. The outgoing government was a coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and The Greens led by Minister-President Wolfgang Clement.

The SPD remained the largest party but declined to 42.8%, its worst result since 1958. However, the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) failed to capitalise, falling slightly to 37%. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) returned to the Landtag in third place with 10%, while the Greens took losses and recorded 7%. Overall, the incumbent government retained a reduced majority. Minister-President Clement met with FDP lead candidate Jürgen Möllemann post-election, but the SPD settled on renewing the coalition with the Greens. Clement was re-elected by the Landtag on 21 June.