In the second round of the 2026 municipal elections on March 22, the National Rally (RN) and its allies captured 36 towns, adding to 18 won in the first round. Key victories include Nice, Orange, and Montargis, per initial Interior Ministry results.
The 2026 municipal elections aimed for the RN to convert national momentum into local strongholds ahead of 2027. According to estimates from March 22, the party led by Jordan Bardella qualified 214 lists for the runoff in towns over 3,500 residents, plus alliances with Éric Ciotti's UDR and others. A total of 36 town halls flipped that day, bringing the tally to 54. First-round winners include David Rachline in Fréjus, Louis Aliot in Perpignan, Steeve Briois in Hénin-Beaumont, and Frédérique Joint in Saint-Savin, Gironde. In Nice, Éric Ciotti won with 48.54% against Christian Estrosi (37.20%) and Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux (14.26%). In Orange (Vaucluse), RN topples the Bompard dynasty; Montargis (Loiret), La Flèche (Sarthe, socialist stronghold since 1989), and Wittelsheim (Haut-Rhin, first in Alsace) also fall. In Pyrénées-Orientales, Rivesaltes and Canohès; in Pas-de-Calais, Liévin, Billy-Montigny, Oignies, Courcelles-lès-Lens, and Lillers. In Marseille, Franck Allisio placed second at 40.4% behind Benoît Payan (53.7%), per Elabe-Berger Levrault for BFMTV, RMC, and Le Figaro. In Toulon, Laure Lavalette got 47.65% against Josée Massi (52.35%).