Overview
- A Civey poll published in Berlin shows Governing Mayor Kai Wegner is known by about 80 percent of respondents, far outpacing other lead candidates.
- Steffen Krach (SPD) reached roughly 45 percent recognition while Elif Eralp (Die Linke) sits near 40 percent and both Werner Graf and Kristin Brinker are around the mid-30s; the Greens’ Spitzenkandidat is the least known at about 32 percent.
- Compared with a November 2025 Civey snapshot, Werner Graf and Elif Eralp raised recognition by about 16 percentage points and Steffen Krach gained about 15 points, signalling gradual visibility increases for challengers.
- Eralp drew sharp criticism from SPD and CDU after a social-media poster depicted Wegner and other senators as criminals, intensifying campaign tensions and shifting media attention to candidate conduct.
- With roughly four months until the vote, name recognition remains a measure of reach rather than pledged support, so the key question is whether rising awareness for challengers will translate into voter backing and coalition shifts on 20 September.