Overview
- Delegates in Oschersleben backed Schulze with about 91% of votes to lead the CDU into the 6 September 2026 state election as Reiner Haseloff steps aside.
- The CDU list drew criticism for scant female representation, initially placing the first woman at number 10; delegates later elevated Sandra Hietel-Heuer to number 8, marginally improving the balance.
- Former parliamentary manager Markus Kurze, who resigned in June after misconduct allegations, failed to secure the number 8 slot and lost to Hietel-Heuer in a second ballot.
- Recent surveys put the AfD around 39–40% and the CDU near 27%, with AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund targeting an absolute majority; the party is classified by state authorities as extremist in parts.
- Schulze reiterated a strict refusal to work with the AfD and promotes an “Alliance of the Center,” even as weakened SPD, FDP and Greens make post‑election majority options uncertain and test the CDU’s brandmauer.