AfD Wins Saxony-Anhalt With Record Result, Testing Germany's Anti-AfD Firewall

The AfD won Saxony-Anhalt's state election on 6 September 2026 with just over 44% of the vote — its best-ever state result — while narrowly missing an absolute majority. Reuters framed the outcome as a "first step toward federal power." The result intensifies pressure on other parties' firewall (Brandmauer) commitment against governing with the AfD.