The big picture: The state elections are being viewed as a crucial test for Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK), the hand-picked successor to Merkel. A series of missteps have Germans — including some in AKK’s own party — questioning her leadership. Her CDU has become especially vulnerable with AfD chipping away at its popularity in recent elections.
Saxony result projections
- CDU: 32.3% (-7.2% from 2014)
- AfD: 27.8% (+18.1%)
- The Left: 10.3% (-8.6%)
- Greens: 8.6% (+2.9%)
- SPD: 7.6% (-4.8%)
- Free Democratic Party: 4.8% (+1%)
Brandenburg result projections
- SPD: 27% (-4.9% from 2014)
- AfD: 23.8% (+7.3%)
- CDU: 15.5% (-7.3%)
- The Left: 10.4% (-8%)
- Greens: 10.2% (+4.3%)
- Free Democratic Party: 4.7% (+3.2%)