AfD Polls at 40% in Saxony-Anhalt Vote for State Power

Voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt cast ballots on September 6, 2026, in an election that could give the Alternative for Germany party its first state-level government role since World War II. Polls placed the AfD at just over 40 percent, well ahead of the Christian Democrats at 23 percent, raising the possibility of an absolute majority if smaller parties fell below the 5 percent threshold required for seats in the state parliament.

The outcome hinges on whether the AfD can convert its lead into sole control or whether mainstream parties maintain their refusal to form coalitions. An absolute majority would let the AfD enact its program without partners, including shifts toward traditional values in schools and cultural institutions, reduced immigration influence, and changes to public broadcasting. Candidate Ulrich Siegmund, 35, who left the CDU to join the AfD, told supporters the movement had already made history and could not be stopped, aiming for at least 45 percent of the vote.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose CDU leads the federal government, urged other parties to confront the issues driving AfD support, particularly migration and security. Incumbent state premier Sven Schulze of the CDU remained the preferred choice for leader in surveys. If no majority emerges, weeks of talks would likely produce a CDU-led coalition, possibly with the Social Democrats and Greens, though the Free Democrats appeared headed below the threshold.

The AfD has ruled out coalitions with other parties, citing their role in national policy over three decades. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, the only group not to reject cooperation outright, also looked unlikely to clear 5 percent. Initial results were expected after polls closed at 6 p.m. local time, with turnout estimates released from noon onward. Roughly 1.7 million people were eligible to vote.

The election serves as an early test for the AfD's national ambitions ahead of the 2029 federal vote. Thousands attended a pre-election demonstration in Magdeburg supporting an open society, with organizers reporting 15,000 to 20,000 participants.