As the church election approaches, nine candidates emerge as notable figures in a race involving over 25,000 participants vying for 13,783 positions. With only 18.4% voter turnout last time, the election sees a mix of politicians, musicians, and influential figures, each bringing unique backgrounds and controversies to the forefront.
Nine Standout Candidates in the 2025 Church Election
Nine Standout Candidates in the 2025 Church Election
Sunday marks the last day to vote in the church election. Over 25,000 individuals are competing for 13,783 available positions. Here are nine candidates who stand out.
Nearly five million Swedes are eligible to vote, yet only 18.4% took the opportunity last time.
The church is practically organized through a local church council, a regional diocesan council, and the national assembly, the Church Meeting, which functions as the church's parliament.
Among the over 25,000 candidates are politicians involved in scandals, musicians, and a true power broker.
Gustaf Norén (S)
Rock star, music teacher, and church politician for the Social Democrats. Gustaf Norén, who rose to fame with his brother in the rock band Mando Diao, has many strings to his guitar. In the last church election, he was the most voted candidate in Dalarna and is now running for re-election to the church council.
Rasmus Giertz (SD)
Recently warned internally by his party following an incident revealed by Expressen, where the MP physically attacked someone and used derogatory language during a bar brawl. He also lied about the incident to the police. Rasmus Giertz is the chairman for SD in Dalarna and tops SD's list for the church council in Falu parish.
Amanda Carlshamre (Posk)
A lesser-known figure but a big name in the church world. Deacon, member of the national church board, and experienced leader of one of the largest nomination groups: Politically Independent in the Church of Sweden. Amanda Carlshamre was previously crowned Sweden's Lucia and has the ability to speak backwards.
The most important issue for Posk is that the church should be free from party politics. This stance has made POSK and Carlshamre formidable challengers to the powerful political parties.
– It is extremely strange that secular parties, which are based on ideologies and represent atheists, Muslims, Jews, and various types of Christians, among other beliefs, have influence in a church that by nature stands beyond the left-right scale, says Amanda Carlshamre to Dagens Arena.
Lena Hallengren (S)
The Social Democratic top name has held several ministerial posts and was the Minister of Social Affairs during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the 2022 parliamentary election, she is the group leader for the Social Democrats in parliament. In the church election, she is running locally for the church council in Kalmar. She believes it is important for the Social Democrats to have a presence in church politics.
– It's about having an open people's church with the values we just talked about, that it's a church for everyone, that it should be there in crisis but also in everyday life. We can't just assume it will be so, which is why we must take responsibility for the church, she tells the newspaper Dagen.
David Lång (SD)
MP David Lång sang a racist song at SD's EU election vigil and was immediately ousted after Expressen's revelation of the affair.
– Oh, shit, are you recording this?, said Lång when he spotted Expressen's microphone.
In the church election, he tops the party's national list.
According to Ronnie Nilsson, chairman of the Sweden Democrats in the Church of Sweden, the party has rallied behind David Lång's candidacy, both in the board and in the nomination group.
– We must separate regular politics from church politics. He hasn't messed up in church politics, but has contributed well there. He has taken responsibility for what he did at the EU election vigil and left parliament. Thus, the matter is settled for us, says Nilsson.
Sophia Jarl (Bourgeois Christian Cooperation)
The moderate municipal top Sophia Jarl became nationally known after she called the Swedish cultural elite "spoiled Sweden" in Expressen. The governance in Norrköping was criticized for massive cuts in culture, and Sophia Jarl argued that the cultural elite's behavior and campaigns threaten open dialogue.
When the right-wing governance seemed to crack, she was ousted as chairman of the municipal executive board to allow continued governance. She now works for the Moderates nationally.
Fredrick Federley (C)
The Center Party top resigned from all positions when it emerged he had a relationship with a man convicted of child rape. He is now training to become a priest and hopes to make a political comeback. In the church election, he is running in the Västerås diocese.
In an interview with Expressen, he shares that the church has meant a lot to him during tough times in his life. He also encourages those who don't attend church to vote.
– You may not have found faith or needed help from the church, but you can do it for all those who need it.
Gustav Kasselstrand (AFS)
Kasselstrand is the SDU top who was expelled from the Sweden Democrats after fierce ideological battles with the party leadership. After his exodus, he founded the far-right Alternative for Sweden, which is running in the church election under the slogan "Take Back the Church!"
Alternative for Sweden has clashed with Christian newspapers after being denied ad space before the election. The newspaper Dagen justifies the denial by stating that an ad from AFS could damage the newspaper's credibility and readers' trust.
Alternative for Sweden opposes same-sex marriage in the church, and party leader Gustav Kasselstrand calls abortion a sin.
Ida Gabrielsson (V)
The Left Party's deputy leader Ida Gabrielsson is running for the church council locally in Nacka, Stockholm. Gabrielsson has been chairman of Young Left and a regular MP since 2018.
She has been noted for her lively language, and in SVT's documentary "The Power Game," she can be heard uttering the words "what damn cunts" about the Social Democrats. The language led to a New Year's resolution to swear less.