In November 2021, Elke Kahr was sworn in as mayor of Graz, Austria’s second largest city. Kahr is not only the first Communist mayor of an Austrian city but of any major city across Europe. There are four factors that explain the surge of Communism and Elke Kahr’s success in Graz. First, the KPÖ’s focus on social issues and the common good. Over the past decades, the Styrian Communists have effectively campaigned for affordable housing and actively supported those in need. Second, the KPÖ’s credibility among voters. Kahr has been holding regular office hours for anyone to come by to discuss everyday problems. With this unorthodox approach, she has gained credibility and earned the trust of voters. As is common practice within the Styrian KPÖ, Kahr limits her politician's salary. Two-thirds of the money goes to a social fund for people who are having a hard time. Factor number three: grassroots organizing. The KPÖ’s strategy of social transformation in Graz is directly connected to the lived realities of the working majority. The party has built structures from the bottom up through the direct participation of the many. It has managed to unify immediate reforms in the here and now with a democratically-elaborated vision of a just and emancipated society. Factor number four, the decline of the so-called “center parties”. There are several take-aways for the left. First, the KPÖ in Graz has shown that it is possible to win an election as a declared communist. Second, the KPÖ’s success has highlighted the importance of grassroots organizing and direct democratic participation for any political project that aims to bring about lasting social change. Third, Elke Kahr's election and the shift in public discourse have opened up opportunities for the left beyond Graz. A clear example of this is the recent historic success of the KPÖ PLUS in the legislative elections in Salzburg.