Overview
- At a representatives’ assembly in Oschersleben, Sven Schulze was chosen with 91 percent of votes to lead the CDU into the 6 September 2026 state election after Reiner Haseloff opted not to run again.
- The proposed state list has drawn fire for low female representation, with only one woman in the top ten and three in the top twenty slots.
- Former education minister Eva Feußner declined her offered place, and figures such as Bundestag deputy Sepp Müller voted against or withheld support for the draft.
- The planned placement of Markus Kurze at number eight is contested due to earlier misconduct allegations, and a counter-candidacy at the assembly was considered possible.
- Recent polling shows the AfD clearly ahead of the CDU (around 39–40 percent versus roughly 27 percent), increasing pressure as Schulze advocates an alliance of the center and rejects cooperation with the AfD.