Poll Reveals CDU Remains Ahead in Rhineland-Palatinate's Upcoming Election
CDU takes the lead over SPD in Rhineland-Palatinate, according to recent polls. - CDU leading in polls over ruling SPD in Rhineland-Palatinate election
Take a glance at the latest poll results for Rhineland-Palatinate's state election in 2026! The conservative CDU remains a frontrunner with a two-point decrease since December. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) sees a minor one-point drop.
In third place, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is storming ahead, gaining a significant three percentage points, standing tall at 17%. The Greens maintain their position with an unchanged 11%. The previously non-parliamentary Left may finally enter the state parliament in Mainz, sitting comfortably at 5%.
The Free Voters stay steady at 4%, missing the cut to enter the parliament. The Free Democrats (FDP) see a decline of one point, standing at 3%, potentially leaving the state parliament as well. Currently, a traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP governs Rhineland-Palatinate, with Alexander Schweitzer at the helm.
Over 1140 eligible voters were surveyed between last week Tuesday and this week Tuesday. A whopping 47% are very satisfied or satisfied with the state government's work. In a direct election for the head of government, 40% would opt for incumbent Schweitzer, while CDU candidate Schnieder receives 17%. Given a choice, 39% prefer a CDU-led government, and 37% advocate for an SP-led government.
A majority of 69% view the AfD as a right-wing extremist party, aligning with the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution's classification. Despite this, 61% are concerned about the democracy being threatened by the AfD. However, only 42% support a party ban, while 48% oppose such measures.
Stay tuned for more updates as the state election approaches on March 22, 2026!
- CDU
- SPD
- AfD
- Greens
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- State Election
- 2026
- Alexander Schweitzer
- Mainz
- FDP
- Regional Poll
- Southwest Broadcasting
- Gordon Schnieder
- Free Voters
- Right-wing Extremism
Enrichment Data:In the recent 2025 federal election, the SPD experienced a large loss, dropping to 16.4%, while the Greens saw a decline to 12%. The CDU/CSU gained popularity, and the FDP failed to secure seats in the Bundestag with a 4.3% result. The CDU/CSU and SPD formed a coalition, with Friedrich Merz becoming Chancellor on May 6, 2025. As of recent polls, CDU/CSU is leading with 27.3%, followed by AfD with 23.1%, SPD at 15.5%, and Grüne at 11.6%. The current government coalition parties combined have around 48.7% support, indicating potential challenges in maintaining a stable government. Regional dynamics in Rhineland-Palatinate, such as local issues and voter preferences, are not explicitly mentioned in the provided information. For a comprehensive understanding of Rhineland-Palatinate's political landscape, specialized regional polls and recent political developments would be necessary.
In light of Rhineland-Palatinate's state election approaching on March 22, 2026, there are concerns about the potential threat to democracy from right-wing extremist parties, such as the AfD, despite 69% viewing them as such. This political landscape has bearings from the recent federal election in 2025, where the SPD, Greens, and CDU/CSU experienced significant changes. The SPD, for instance, dropped to 16.4%, while the Greens saw a decline to 12%. Conversely, the CDU/CSU saw a rise in popularity and formed a coalition government with the SPD. Although the SPD, Greens, and FDP currently govern Rhineland-Palatinate, the conservative CDU remains ahead in the regional polls, with a two-point decrease since December. Meanwhile, the far-right AfD is gaining ground, increasing its support by three points. The war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation domains may influence voters' decisions, as the Commission has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, which is a relevant concern in crime-and-justice and accident-prone industries such as car-accidents and fires. Migration and general-news issues might also play a role in shaping the election outcome.
