Emmanuel Grégoire Leads First Round in 2026 Paris Municipal Elections as Rachida Dati Narrows Gap

A recent Ifop poll released on January 10, 2026, shows socialist Emmanuel Grégoire leading the first round of the Paris municipal elections with 30% voter intention. The poll, conducted online from January 5 to 9 with 983 registered voters, indicates a tightening race as right-wing candidate Rachida Dati follows closely with 28%, marking a two-point increase since November. Grégoire, representing the leftist coalition excluding LFI, has seen a slight decline from previous polling but claims his list is the only one positioned to defeat Dati and far-right allies.

The survey predicts four candidates likely to advance to the second round: Emmanuel Grégoire, Rachida Dati, Pierre-Yves Bournazel of Horizons at 16%, and Sophia Chikirou from LFI at 10%, whose support dropped by two points. Other contenders include Sarah Knafo from the nationalist right with 8% support and Thierry Mariani from the RN at 7%.

This evolving electoral landscape positions the center-left and right candidates in a competitive battle, with Grégoire and Dati vying for dominance. According to the poll, Grégoire leads the union of the left and insists on the coalition’s ability to overcome Dati’s challenge. This data provides important insights into voter intentions as Paris approaches its 2026 municipal elections.

No significant updates involving other municipal campaigns such as those in Lyon or La Courneuve were related directly to Paris’s election dynamics in this poll, although notable political activities are occurring in other regions.

The upcoming weeks are expected to see intensified campaigning as candidates seek to consolidate support and appeal to Parisian voters in a closely contested race.