Voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt handed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) its strongest result ever in a state election on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Preliminary final figures show the party taking 43.8 percent of the vote, more than doubling its 20.8 percent share from 2021.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had led the previous state government, collapsed to 17.2 percent. Other parties finished far behind: the Social Democrats (SPD) at 9.3 percent, the Greens at 8.9 percent, The Left at 8.6 percent, and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) at 5.3 percent. The Free Democrats fell below the 5 percent threshold and lost their seats.
AfD secured 39 of the 83 seats in the state parliament. That leaves the party three seats short of the 42 needed for an absolute majority. Turnout hit 77.8 percent, the highest in the state since German reunification.
Lead candidate claims historic mandate
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s 35-year-old lead candidate, told supporters the result marked a breakthrough. “We have made history in this state,” he said. “We have achieved exactly what we wanted to achieve.” He described the outcome as a clear mandate to govern and said the party would not bend to other parties’ conditions while remaining open to talks with those willing to support major change.
More Read
The Saxony-Anhalt branch of the AfD is classified as confirmed right-wing extremist by the state’s domestic intelligence agency. Mainstream parties including the CDU, SPD, Greens and The Left have long maintained a “firewall” and ruled out any formal coalition with AfD. That stance leaves the path to forming a government unclear. Some attention now turns to whether the BSW, which cleared the threshold by a narrow margin, or individual lawmakers could play a role.
International reactions arrive quickly
US President Donald Trump shared election projections on Truth Social showing AfD’s large lead, without adding further comment.
Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has previously voiced support for the AfD, responded on X to a post by party co-leader Alice Weidel. “Well done!” he wrote. Siegmund replied by thanking Musk for his support and saying he would welcome strong and constructive cooperation if the party takes responsibility in the state. “Germany would then again be a location worth investing in,” Siegmund added.
What the numbers mean
The swing of nearly 23 percentage points ranks among the largest shifts in recent German state elections. AfD performed especially strongly among men and middle-aged voters according to available surveys. The result puts new pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU at the national level after the party’s sharp decline in a state it previously governed.
Government formation talks are expected to begin soon. AfD leaders insist they have the strongest claim to lead. Other parties continue to reject cooperation. The coming weeks will show whether Saxony-Anhalt becomes the first German state governed by the AfD or whether a multi-party arrangement without it emerges.
The election underscores ongoing political shifts in eastern Germany, where concerns over migration, the economy and dissatisfaction with established parties have driven large gains for AfD in successive votes. Final official results and any coalition negotiations will determine the next chapter for the state of roughly 2.1 million people.
