The upcoming elections will be the first major tests of public sentiment since Friedrich Merz assumed the Chancellorship. Regional variations are expected to influence outcomes, with the CDU narrowly missing the top position in Baden-Württemberg while leading in Rheinland-Pfalz for the first time in 35 years. On September 6, Saxony-Anhalt will hold elections, where the AfD aims to secure governance, having achieved 30.5% in the 2024 European elections and 37.1% in the 2025 Bundestag elections.