Polling stations opened at 8 am (0600 GMT) in Germany’s most populous state of North Rhine Westphalia on Sunday for what is expected to be a close race between the state’s governing conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Polls show that the government of Hendrik Wüst faces a tough challenge from the SPD, led by Thomas Kutschaty. Wüst will vote in Rhede in Münsterland, while Kutschaty is set to cast his ballot in his home town of Essen. Initial forecasts are expected shortly after polling stations close at 6 pm.