Overview
- Delegates in Oschersleben placed Schulze at the top of the list with about 91% support, confirming the handover after Reiner Haseloff decided not to run again.
- Schulze vowed to win the election and again ruled out any cooperation with the AfD, promoting his plan for an alliance of the political center.
- The proposed state list drew criticism for a paucity of women, with only one woman in the top ten and three in the top 20 before delegates elevated Sandra Hietel-Heuer to place eight, slightly improving representation.
- Markus Kurze failed in his bid for the eighth spot after prior misconduct allegations led to his resignation as parliamentary manager, with prosecutors not pursuing the case; he now aims for a direct mandate.
- Polling from September shows the AfD around 39–40% versus roughly 27% for the CDU, intensifying pressure on strategy, coalition prospects, and the importance of list rankings.