Overview
- Delegates in Oschersleben put Schulze at the top of the state list with 90 of 99 votes as the party prepares for the September 6, 2026 election.
- The proposed list drew internal criticism for scant female representation; after delegate votes Sandra Hietel-Heuer captured slot eight, lifting the count to four women among the top 20.
- Former education minister Eva Feußner called the list "more than disconcerting" and declined an offered place 37, as party women cited CDU parity goals set at federal level.
- Party leaders attributed the skew to the long‑used regional allocation method and signaled plans to review nomination procedures to better include women.
- Schulze again ruled out cooperation with the AfD, which polls around 39–40% versus about 27% for the CDU, and Markus Kurze lost his bid for place eight after prior misconduct allegations, with prosecutors not pursuing charges.