AfD Becomes Most Popular Party in North Rhine-Westphalia
The Alternative for Germany has overtaken the Christian Democratic Union in popularity for national votes in North Rhine-Westphalia, according to a new Forsa poll.
A Forsa poll shows the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become the most popular party in North Rhine-Westphalia when measured for a national vote, securing 24 percent of support. This shift comes as the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) fell to a record low of 22 percent for a federal vote in the populous Western German state.
At the state level, the CDU maintains a lead with 29 percent compared to 22 percent for the AfD. However, the gap between the two parties has narrowed significantly, dropping from 22 percentage points in July 2025 to seven points currently. This decline follows recent electoral setbacks for the CDU in Berlin and eastern Germany.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed shock over results in Saxony-Anhalt and took responsibility for the outcomes, though he refused to resign as chancellor or CDU chairman. In response to the AfD's rise, Minister-President Hendrik Wüst called for the government to investigate a possible ban of the party.
