Although Magdalena Andersson may become Sweden’s next prime minister, the election was a historic setback for the Social Democrats. The party recorded its worst parliamentary election result since universal suffrage was introduced, simultaneously suffering major losses in several traditionally red municipalities in northern Sweden.
The Social Democrats’ historic grip on Norrland continues to weaken. In this year’s election, the party lost significant ground in several of its old strongholds, with the decline especially evident in municipalities where S has long been the dominant political force.
In all four northern counties, support for the Social Democrats is down. Västernorrland saw the biggest loss, with the party dropping from 39.4 percent in the 2022 election to about 34.4 percent. Jämtland, Norrbotten, and Västerbotten also recorded clear declines.
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In Västerbotten, S dropped from 40.8 to 37.2 percent, and the party lost ground in 13 of the county’s 15 municipalities. In some places, the decline was dramatic. In Åsele, the Social Democrats plummeted by more than 20 percentage points.
Other traditional S bastions are following the same pattern. In Vindeln, Dorotea, and Storuman, significant losses are evident, further reinforcing the picture that the party’s once-strong position in northern Sweden is no longer a given.
Norrland has long been one of the Social Democrats’ most important political bastions. The mining and forestry industries, the public sector, and a strong union tradition have historically given the party very strong support. But the election results show that the old map is changing.
Remarkable Loss
Political scientist Magnus Blomgren points out that the development is remarkable.
“The Social Democrats have dominated northern Sweden, but have lost that position. We have seen it in several elections, but the trend continues despite four years in opposition and I think that stands out,” he told state television.
In Västerbotten, the loss could also have concrete consequences in parliament. The Social Democrats look set to lose one of their four seats from the county, even though the final vote count isn’t ready yet.
The Social Democrats also lost 3.9 percentage points in the Västerbotten regional election. For the party, the result in Norrland is yet another sign that its old strongholds are no longer as secure as they once were.