Although Hofer faced a far-left<ref name="TheGuardian">Henley, Jon (May 23, 2016). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/23/who-are-men-competing-austrias-next-president-norbert-hofer-alexander-van-der-bellen Who are the two men who competed to be Austria's next president?] ''The Guardian''. Retrieved December 20, 2016.</ref> Green Party candidate in the runoff who supported increased European integration and immigration, despite evidence that contrary positions were necessary, many establishment "conservatives" (who actually align more with leftists) strongly opposed Hofer and endorsed his opponent, Alexander Van der Bellen.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (November 22, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/11/22/austrian-establishment-conservatives-back-far-left-candidate/ ‘Never Hofer’: Austrian Establishment Conservatives Back Far Left Candidate]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 20, 2016.</ref> Hofer, however, received support from disillusioned working-class voters.<ref>Tomlinson, Chris (November 18, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/11/18/like-trump-norbert-hofer-attracting-disillusioned-working-class-voters/ Like Trump, Austria’s Norbert Hofer Attracting Disillusioned Working Class Voters]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 20, 2016.</ref> Additionally, far-left European leaders, who cannot tell the difference between a conservative and a [[Nazi]], slanderously compared Hofer to a "Nazi."<ref name="BreitbartOct24">Tomlinson, Chris (October 24, 2016). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/10/24/former-eu-head-likens-fpo-presidential-candidate-norbert-hofer-nazi/ Former EU Head Likens Austrian Presidential Candidate Norbert Hofer to a Nazi]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved December 20, 2016.</ref>
Hofer lost the December 4 election, although the FPÖ vowed to fight on.<ref>Oliphant, Roland; Cseko, Balazs (December 4, 2016). [httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/05/time-comes-says-defiant-austrian-far-right-freedom-party-claims/ Austrian far-right defiant as Freedom Party claims 'pole position' for general election: 'Our time comes']. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref>
It must be noted that as the campaign progressed, Hofer moderated his positions in order to attract more votes, something which possibly actually played a part in his defeat.<ref>McKenzie, Sheena (December 4, 2016). [https://www.cnn.com/2016/12/02/politics/austrian-election-norbert-hofer-profile/ Austrian presidential election: Who is Norbert Hofer?] ''CNN''. Retrieved December 20, 2016.</ref>