Saxony-Anhalt Election: AfD Wins 44%

Voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt cast ballots on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in an election that saw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieve its strongest state-level performance since its founding, securing approximately 44 percent of the vote. The result marks a significant breakthrough for the party and places considerable pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's federal government. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Chancellor Merz, finished a distant second with about 18.5 percent of the vote, representing a substantial setback for the party, which had governed Saxony-Anhalt for 24 years. Projections and early vote counts indicated the AfD more than doubled its vote share from the previous state election. While the AfD emerged as the strongest political force, its ability to form a government remains uncertain. The party had sought an absolute majority in the state legislature to govern alone, which would bypass the longstanding political firewall maintained by other mainstream parties against cooperation with the AfD.