Riniker leads race for vacant Aargau government seat

FDP lawmaker Maja Riniker is the favourite to win a seat in Aargau’s cantonal government, SRF reports. She is one of four candidates in the October 18 by-election to replace Stephan Attiger, whose Construction, Transport and Environment Department is becoming vacant.

The other candidates are Loredana Nigro of the Young Socialists (Juso), independent Theres Schöni and Stephan Zurfluh of the Music Party. Riniker is also backed by the Swiss People’s Party and the Centre Party. She said no election was certain and that she was campaigning seriously.

Dominik Gresch, a member of the cantonal parliament and Zofingen city councillor for the Green Liberal Party, withdrew his bid after reports about debt enforcement proceedings over unpaid taxes. The Greens and the Evangelical People’s Party had also endorsed him, but none of the three parties has issued a new recommendation.

Riniker, 48, began her political career on a school board and spent six years in the cantonal parliament before being elected to the Swiss National Council in 2019. She presided over the council in 2025. She said she wanted to return to cantonal politics because she had the chance to shape policy in the canton she cared about. Although security has been her main policy focus, she said her experience in national associations, businesses and her party had prepared her to lead a department, likely including construction and transport.

Nigro, 21, is making her first electoral bid and is backed by the Social Democratic Party. She joined the Juso executive committee at the start of the year. After training as a logistics worker and working in the field, she is now doing an internship in social pedagogy. She lives in Lengnau and says social inequality is a key concern, alongside climate, equality and migration.

Schöni, 64, is a coach from Merenschwand. She has previously run for the Council of States and for Aargau’s government, six years ago. She says social justice, sustainability, healthy living conditions, good infrastructure and an improved cantonal administration are essential to shared prosperity. She also argues that there should be fewer 5G mobile phone antennas and that residents should have a say in decisions about them.

Zurfluh, 64, describes himself as a songwriter and travel journalist. He has previously stood for mayor in Baden, as well as for the National Council, the Council of States and Aargau’s government. He says he has written more than 1,000 songs. His Music Party campaign promotes “movement and joy of life,” he said.