Gregoire's win in Paris underscores a coalition success against conservative rivals, as nationwide municipal elections show mixed results.
Socialist Party candidate Emmanuel Gregoire won the Paris mayoral election on March 22, 2026, with poll estimates placing his support at 51 to 53 percent of the vote. He led a unified list that included the traditional left, the Greens, and the Communists, defeating Conservative rival Rachida Dati, who conceded the race.
Gregoire, 48, previously served as deputy to outgoing Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo. During his campaign, he promised to position Paris as a "city of refuge" and a stronghold against the right and far right, according to statements from his party.
Election Results in Other Key Cities
In Marseille, Socialist Mayor Benoit Payan secured re-election with 56.3 percent of the vote, as reported by an Elabe poll for BFM TV. This outcome followed the withdrawal of a hard-left candidate, which helped consolidate left-wing support.
In Toulon, centre-right candidate Josée Massi led with 53.5 percent, according to an Elabe poll, while far-right National Rally candidate Laure Lavalette conceded defeat. Despite these losses, National Rally chief Jordan Bardella claimed significant breakthroughs for his party in other areas, including re-election in Perpignan and wins in smaller cities.
The far-right National Rally failed to capture Marseille and Toulon, falling short in these key southern cities. In Nice, exit polls indicated a win for Eric Ciotti, a former mainstream conservative now aligned with the National Rally.
Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was re-elected as mayor of Le Havre, boosting his profile ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Turnout for the elections reached about 48 percent by 5 p.m. local time, slightly higher than in 2020 but lower than in 2014, per the French Ministry of Interior.
Socialist Party chief Olivier Faure praised the victories in Paris and Marseille, stating that 'only the left can prevent France from this regression' in reference to far-right gains. These results reflect broader trends in France's municipal elections, with the traditional left and right maintaining holds in major urban centers.
