The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling above 40% ahead of Saxony-Anhalt's election on September 6, 2026. The state, one of Germany's 16 federal states, has a rich cultural and historical heritage, including associations with the Bauhaus movement and Martin Luther. The Chemical Triangle in the eastern part of the state accounts for around 10,000 jobs, while the southern region is undergoing structural changes due to the phase-out of lignite coal, resulting in unemployment slightly above the national average.
Saxony-Anhalt has a population of approximately 2.1 million, with only two cities, Magdeburg and Halle, having more than 200,000 residents. The upcoming election has garnered international attention as a candidate from the AfD, classified as "confirmed right-wing extremist" by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, could potentially lead the state government. The AfD's lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, is currently ahead in opinion polls.
The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has governed the state since reunification in 1990, is trailing with support between 23% and 26%. Other parties, including the Left Party and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), are polling at 13% and between 6% and 7%, respectively. The prospects for the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) returning to the state parliament remain uncertain.
Reiner Haseloff, a CDU politician who served as state premier for 15 years, expressed concerns about the current political climate, likening it to the final phase of the Weimar Republic. His successor, Sven Schulze, must contend with the rising popularity of the AfD in the election.
Historically, support for extremist parties has been stronger in Saxony-Anhalt than in other parts of Germany. The far-right German People's Union (DVU) won 12.9% of the vote in 1998 but did not contest the 2002 election due to internal divisions. Experts attribute the AfD's current support to widespread dissatisfaction with economic developments and demographic challenges, including an aging population and a gender imbalance among younger age groups.
Opposition to immigration persists, despite the state's foreign population being relatively small. The number of foreign nationals has more than doubled since 2015. Political scientist Benjamin Höhne suggests that the AfD could seek to reshape the constitutional order if it gains power, although he believes implementing radical agendas would be challenging at the state level. As the election date approaches, attention is focused on Saxony-Anhalt and its political landscape.