On June 28, Austria’s second largest city, Graz, elected a new council. The Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) secured 35.7 percent of the vote, once again emerging as the clear winner. Building on its historic 2021 success, the party — led by Mayor Elke Kahr — increased its vote share by nearly 7 percentage points. The win ensured Graz remains a political anomaly not just within Austria, but far beyond its borders. The result is particularly remarkable given the political climate in Styria, the s