SAXONY-ANHALT — The victory marked the first time the party has won a German state election. Voter turnout was 77.8%. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) received 17.2% of the vote and 15 seats.

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) received 9.3% of the vote. The Green Party received 8.9% of the vote. The SPD, Greens, and Left Party each secured eight seats. The BSW secured five seats.

Ulrich Siegmund is the AfD lead candidate for governor in Saxony-Anhalt. He is 35 years old. Siegmund told reporters in Berlin on Monday: "I am telling you today that we must reclaim our old, safe, beautiful Germany. We proved that yesterday, and therefore this is the path we will now take together."

Friedrich Merz is the Chancellor of Germany and leads the CDU. Merz stated: "I want to assure everyone in our country of this: Our institutions are resilient and stable. Our Basic Law protects and guarantees this order." He added: "This message is also directed at our friends in Europe and across the globe." Alice Weidel stated: "No chancellor before has been as unpopular as Friedrich Merz, who has become a major obstacle to Germany’s prosperous development." She also stated: "The people in this country no longer want business as usual when it comes to illegal immigration, open borders, skyrocketing crime rates among foreign nationals, refused deportations, and a disastrous energy policy."

Mainstream German parties maintain a policy of not cooperating with the AfD, known as the 'firewall'. Germany's domestic intelligence agency classifies the AfD as an extremist group in some regions, including Saxony-Anhalt. The Saxony-Anhalt branch of the AfD was classified as a 'proven right-wing extremist endeavour' by the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution on November 7, 2023. The CDU led the Saxony-Anhalt state government for the 24 years prior to the 2026 election.

Why It Matters

The election result challenges the established political order in Germany, where mainstream parties have maintained a firewall against cooperation with the AfD. The victory in Saxony-Anhalt, a state previously governed by the CDU for 24 years, signals a shift in voter alignment. The classification of the local AfD branch as a proven right-wing extremist endeavour by security authorities adds complexity to potential coalition formations.

The response from international figures shows the broader European context of the result. While leaders such as Friedrich Merz emphasized institutional resilience, other political figures viewed the outcome as a development for migration and identity policies. The willingness of the BSW to assist an AfD governor affects the stability of the firewall policy in future governance arrangements.

Timeline

On November 7, 2023, the Saxony-Anhalt branch of the AfD was classified as a 'proven right-wing extremist endeavour' by the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution, citing anti-Muslim, racist, and antisemitic statements by officials.

On September 6, 2026, the AfD won the state election with 43.8% of the vote. Ulrich Siegmund told public broadcaster ZDF late Sunday: "Over 44% voted for political change.. and that must be implemented after the election." On the same day, Siegmund told ZDF: "Very clearly, we want voters finally to get after the election what they voted for." The CDU received 17.2% of the vote.

The SPD received 9.3% of the vote. The Green Party received 8.9% of the vote.

What's New

Friedrich Merz stated: "And I want to make this very clear: 2,500 kilometers east of here, people are especially delighted with this election result in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt." Ulrich Siegmund told public broadcaster ZDF late Sunday: "Over 44% voted for political change.. and that must be implemented after the election." He told public broadcaster ZDF late Sunday: "Very clearly, we want voters finally to get after the election what they voted for." Friedrich Merz stated: "I want to assure everyone in our country of this: Our institutions are resilient and stable. Our Basic Law protects and guarantees this order." Friedrich Merz stated: "This message is also directed at our friends in Europe and across the globe." Saxony-Anhalt has a population of 2.1 million people. The Saxony-Anhalt branch of the AfD was classified as a 'proven right-wing extremist endeavour' by the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution on November 7, 2023.

How Sources Differ

Regarding this election, Friedrich Merz stated: "And I want to make this very clear: 2,500 kilometers east of here, people are especially delighted with this election result in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt." The Saxony-Anhalt State Election Results, September 6, 2026 reported that the AfD received 43.8% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The Saxony-Anhalt State Election Results, September 6, 2026 reported that the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) received 17.2% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The Saxony-Anhalt State Election Results, September 6, 2026 reported that the Social Democratic Party (SPD) received 9.3% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The Saxony-Anhalt State Election Results, September 6, 2026 reported that the Green Party received 8.9% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The Saxony-Anhalt State Election Results, September 6, 2026 reported that the Left Party received 8.6% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The Saxony-Anhalt State Election Results, September 6, 2026 reported that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won the Saxony-Anhalt state election held on September 6, 2026. The Saxony-Anhalt State Election Results, September 6, 2026 reported that the BSW party received 5.3% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The Saxony-Anhalt State Election Results, September 6, 2026 reported that voter turnout in the Saxony-Anhalt state election was 77.8%.