Dorothee Stapelfeldt (born 12 August 1956) is a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) who served in the governments of mayors Olaf Scholz and Peter Tschentscher of Hamburg, including as State Minister for Urban Development and Environment (2015–2022) and State Minister of Science and Research (2011–2015).

Early life and education

Stapelfeldt was born in 1956 in Hamburg. She took her school exam in 1975, and studied history of art, literary criticism, and social and economic history at the University of Hamburg. In 1989 she earned a doctorate.

Political career

Early beginnings

Stapelfeldt is a member of the (SPD). She has been a member of the Hamburg State Parliament since 1986, from 2000 to 2004 as its President. In 2007 she was in competition with Mathias Petersen for the position of top candidate for the Hamburg state election, but resigned after friction during an internal SPD election.

Career in state government

Between 2011 and 2015, Stapelfeldt served as Deputy Mayor of Hamburg as well as State Minister (Senator) for Science and Research in the state government of Mayor Olaf Scholz. In this capacity, she was one of the state's representatives at the Bundesrat. From 2015 to 2022, she served as State Minister for Urban Development and Housing. In the negotiations to form a so-called traffic light coalition of the SPD, the Green Party and the FDP under Chancellor Olaf Scholz following the 2021 federal elections, Stapelfeldt was part of her party's delegation in the working group on building and housing, chaired by Kevin Kühnert, Christian Kühn and Daniel Föst.

Other activities

Corporate boards

Non-profit organizations

Personal life

Stapelfeldt is married, but living separated and has two children. She lives in Hamburg's Winterhude district.