1947 North Rhine-Westphalia state election

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1947 North Rhine-Westphalia state election

20 April 1947 1950 →
All 216 seats in the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia, including 16 overhang seats 109 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	5,290,598 (67.3%)
First party Second party Third party   Candidate Karl Arnold Fritz Henßler Max Reimann Party CDU SPD KPD Seats won 92 64 28 Popular vote 1,889,581 1,607,487 702,410 Percentage 37.6% 32.0% 14.0%   Fourth party Fifth party   Candidate Rudolf Amelunxen Franz Blücher Party Centre FDP Seats won 20 12 Popular vote 491,138 298,995 Percentage 9.8% 6.0%
Results for the single-member constituencies.
Government before election Second Amelunxen cabinet CDU–SPD–KPD–Centre–FDP Government after election First Arnold cabinet CDU–SPD–KPD–Centre

The 1947 North Rhine-Westphalia state election was held on 20 April 1947 to elect the 1st Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia. Prior to the election, the state was governed by a parliament appointed by British occupying authorities comprising 100 members from the Rhineland and 100 from Westphalia, and later four from Lippe. The outgoing government was an all-party coalition headed by Rudolf Amelunxen.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) emerged as the largest party with 37.6% and 92 seats, followed by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) with 32.0% and 64 seats. The Communist Party (KPD) placed fourth with 14%, followed by the Centre Party on 10% and Free Democratic Party (FDP) on 6%. The election did not take place in constituency 40 Kleve until 18 May; it was won by the CDU. Overall, the CDU won 16 overhang seats.

After the election, CDU leader Karl Arnold became Minister-President in a coalition of all parties except the FDP.