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The 2026 Rhineland-Palatinate state election will be held on 22 March 2026 to elect the 19th Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate.
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The 2026 Rhineland-Palatinate state election will be held on 22 March 2026 to elect the 19th Landtag of Rhineland-Palatinate.
The Rhineland-Palatinate state government has set the date for the 19th state election on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Interior Minister Michael Ebling stated that the date meets constitutional requirements, avoids the Easter holidays, and allows for timely formation of the new state parliament. The election must occur between 57 and 60 months after the current legislative period began on May 18, 2021. Unlike previous elections since 1996, the 2026 election will not coincide with Baden-Württemberg’s due to differing legal and holiday schedules. Baden-Württemberg will vote on March 8, 2026, while Rhineland-Palatinate’s election date accommodates the mandatory 67-day period for approving election proposals, avoiding overlap with the year-end holiday season. [1]
In Rhineland-Palatinate, each voter has two votes. The first vote, known as the constituency vote, is used to elect a direct candidate. The second vote, called the state vote, is cast for a party or voter association and is decisive for the allocation of seats in the state parliament. The number of constituencies was increased from 51 to 52 in 2019.
Parties and voter associations can choose to submit either a statewide list eligible for election across Rhineland-Palatinate or district lists in the four electoral districts. However, it is not mandatory to submit a district list for each district; in such cases, the state vote is not applicable statewide. For the 2021 state election, no district lists were approved.
Election proposals must be submitted by January 6, 2026.
For seat allocation, only parties and voter associations that receive at least 5% of the state votes are considered. Unlike federal elections, there is no basic mandate clause. The state parliament generally has 101 seats, with 52 allocated as direct mandates. Direct mandates won by parties or voter associations that fail to meet the 5% threshold are subtracted from the total before further seat allocation. If a party wins more direct mandates than its proportional share based on the state vote, other parties receive compensatory mandates, potentially increasing the total number of seats. The seat distribution for state and district lists uses the Sainte-Laguë/Schepers divisor method with standard rounding.
In the 2021 state elections, the SPD, led by Prime Minister Malu Dreyer, was the strongest with 35.7 percent. The CDU achieved its poor result in Rhineland-Palatinate with 27.7 percent. The Greens were again the third strongest force with gains of 9.3 percent. [2]
The AfD became the fourth strongest force in the Rhineland-Palatinate state parliament with losses of 8.3 percent. The FDP reached 5.5 percent. The Free Voters made it into the state parliament for the first time with 5.4 percent. [3]
Even before the election, all three parties in the traffic light coalition had campaigned for it to continue. The balance of power within the alliance changed, since the Greens were now the second strongest party instead of the FDP.
The SPD invited the Greens and FDP to exploratory talks the day after the election. Almost eight weeks after the election, the SPD, Greens, and FDP agreed to continue their previous coalition.
In the constituent session of the state parliament on May 18, 2021, Malu Dreyer was re-elected Prime Minister and the Third Dreyer cabinet was sworn in. [4] Due to health reasons, Dreyer resigned in summer 2024. On 10 July 2024, Alexander Schweitzer (politician) became Prime Minister and formed the Schweitzer cabinet.
The table below lists the parties represented in the 18th Landtag.
| # | Name | Ideology | Leading candidate | 2021 result | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes (%) | Seats | ||||||
| 1 | SPD | Social Democratic Party of Germany Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands | Social democracy | Alexander Schweitzer | 35.7% | 39 / 101 | |
| 2 | CDU | Christian Democratic Union of Germany Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands | Christian democracy | Gordon Schnieder | 27.7% | 31 / 101 | |
| 3 | Grüne | Alliance 90/The Greens Bündnis 90/Die Grünen | Green politics | Katrin Eder | 9.3% | 9 / 101 | |
| 4 | AfD | Alternative for Germany Alternative für Deutschland | Right-wing populism | Jan Bollinger | 8.3% | 6 / 101 | |
| 5 | FDP | Free Democratic Party Freie Demokratische Partei | Classical liberalism | Daniela Schmitt | 5.5% | 6 / 101 | |
| 6 | FW | Free Democratic Party Freie Demokratische Partei | Classical liberalism | Joachim Streit | 5.4% | 4 / 101 | |
Alexander Schweitzer, who has served as Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate since July 2024, is widely regarded as the SPD’s lead candidate for the 2026 state election, though his official nomination remains a formality. Succeeding Malu Dreyer after her decade-long tenure, the 51-year-old Pfälzer, standing at 2.06 meters, was a prominent figure in her administration and a favored successor within the party. Since taking office, Schweitzer has actively campaigned across the state, highlighting his extensive travel and engagements to build recognition, hoping to benefit from the typical incumbent advantage. Despite the SPD trailing the CDU in polls, he expresses confidence in winning the March 2026 election and continuing the current coalition with the Greens and FDP, though the Greens have been less committed. Schweitzer promotes the concept of a good traffic light coalition in Mainz, contrasting it with Berlin’s challenges, though recent conflicts over the state climate protection and hunting laws have exposed coalition tensions. As a former Labor and Social Affairs Minister and current SPD federal deputy chairman, he advocates a business-friendly approach and aims to revive the party’s promise of social mobility, aligning with SPD leader Lars Klingbeil. [5] The opposition accuses him of managing stagnation after 35 years of SPD governance. This summer, Schweitzer is focusing on a 600 million euro “Action-Strong Municipalities” program, a special assets law, and a plan for education, climate, and infrastructure, to be completed by autumn, while preparing to chair the Conference of Ministers-President from October. [6]
Gordon Schnieder, a 50-year-old from Birresborn in the Eifel region, was unanimously selected as the CDU's lead candidate for the 2026 Rhineland-Palatinate state election during a party congress in Frankenthal last autumn. [5] A member of the state parliament since 2016, he assumed the party and parliamentary group leadership roles in late 2022 following internal disputes, succeeding Christian Baldauf, and later replaced the previous party leader. [5] Schnieder aims to end 35 years of SPD-led governance, targeting the Minister-President position, though his lack of widespread recognition remains a challenge despite the CDU leading in polls with 30% support as of early June 2025. [7] He has criticized the current coalition as a “standstill traffic light” and predicted Schweitzer would be remembered for a brief tenure. [5] Schnieder plans to apologize for the state’s failure during the 2021 flood disaster if elected, a stance contrasting with the SPD’s approach under Schweitzer and his predecessor Malu Dreyer. [8] His campaign emphasizes strong leadership and economic revitalization, earning praise from the coalition for his firm stance against the AfD, while drawing inspiration from his brother Patrick Schnieder, the federal Transport Minister. [5] He lives with his wife and three children in Birresborn, engaging actively in carnival, church, and as vice-president of the state music association. [5]
Katrin Eder, the Climate Protection Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, was selected as the lead candidate for the Greens for the 2026 state election, having prevailed over two other contenders earlier in 2025. She received 95% approval at the party congress in May 2025, reflecting her emphasis on climate protection, a key Greens issue, though some party members express concern that this focus might reduce electoral appeal. Eder has led significant legislative efforts, including the state climate protection law, which sparked intense internal and public debate within the coalition, resulting in compromises from the Greens' initial proposals. She also navigated the state hunting law, accepting concessions with a pragmatic stance of preferring weaker laws to no legislation, demonstrating her compromise ability. Recognized for her authentic and direct communication style, Eder often divides opinion, earning a polarizing reputation among political adversaries. Prior to her ministerial role since late 2021, she served as Mainz’s traffic commissioner for ten years, promoting cycling infrastructure and 30 km/h speed limits on major city roads, a policy that remains contentious. The Greens, under Eder, remain open to various post-election coalition options, with a continuation of the traffic light alliance considered possible but less prioritized than by Minister-President Schweitzer. [5] Eder, a 48-year-old mother of twins living with her partner, Left Party politician Tupac Orellana, in Mainz, has faced coalition challenges over the climate law’s 2040 neutrality target, which has drawn opposition from business and unions citing economic risks. In a recent interview, she defended the law’s economic compatibility against these criticisms, underscoring its importance. [9] In a public discussion, she elaborated on the Greens’ commitment to climate goals, addressing concerns about balancing environmental and economic needs. [10] Another segment featured her debating the law’s practicality, reinforcing her determination to maintain the 2040 target despite coalition pressures. [11]
Jan Bollinger, the current party and parliamentary group leader of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Rhineland-Palatinate, was selected as the party's lead candidate for the 2026 state election on 15 June 2025, at a party congress in Idar-Oberstein. He secured 71% of the delegate votes, defeating two contenders, Sandra Müller and Matthias Tönsmann, who received 25% and 2% respectively. Bollinger, aged 48, has expressed ambitions to become Minister-President, positioning himself against incumbent Alexander Schweitzer (SPD). His campaign focuses on strict immigration policies, proposing the conversion of Hahn Airport into a deportation hub with hourly flights, [12] alongside plans to terminate the broadcasting treaty, end wind energy, and reintroduce nuclear power. [13] The AfD, currently represented by six male members in the state parliament following the departure of Iris Nieland to the Bundestag, aims to become the strongest force in the March 2026 election, with recent polls indicating 17% support. Bollinger dismisses criticism from the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution labeling the party as confirmed right-wing extremist, calling it "nonsense" and defending it as legitimate criticism of government policies, though he distanced himself from a controversial anti-Muslim post by party colleague Nicole Höchst. The party’s list also includes Damian Lohr, Eugen Ziegler, Ralf Schönborn, Catalina Monzon, Joachim Paul, Carsten Propp, Benjamin Haupt, Jürgen Klein, and Claudia von Bohr among the top ten candidates. [14] [13] [15]
Daniela Schmitt, the current Economic and Transport Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate and FDP state chairwoman, was elected as the Free Democratic Party's (FDP) lead candidate for the 2026 state election on June 28, 2025, during a delegate assembly in Speyer. She received 78% of the valid votes (151 out of 193), with no opposing candidates, though this marked a decline from her 95.2% support in 2020. The 52-year-old, who succeeded Volker Wissing as state leader in April 2025 with 67.5% approval amid internal party conflicts, focuses her campaign on modern education and housing, advocating “build, build, build” to address affordability issues. Despite her role, the FDP faces challenges with recent polls showing only 3% support, risking the 5% threshold for parliamentary entry. Schmitt’s party aims to adopt its election program on November 22, 2025, emphasizing economic strength and the principle of merit. The delegate assembly also elected Justice Minister Philipp Fernis and parliamentary group leader Steven Wink to the second and third positions on the state list, respectively. [5]
Joachim Streit, a 60-year-old politician from the Free Voters, has been announced as the lead candidate for the party in the March 22, 2026, Rhineland-Palatinate state election, with official nomination pending as of June 2025. Streit, who served as a member of the Rhineland-Palatinate Landtag from 2021 to 2024 and led the party’s parliamentary group, previously led the Free Voters to their first entry into the state parliament in 2021, securing 5.4% of the vote and six seats. After a brief stint in the European Parliament following his 2024 election, he returned to state politics, citing a desire to prevent the party’s project from failing amid internal conflicts. Streit, a former mayor of Bitburg and district administrator of the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, aims to achieve at least 7% of the vote and secure a government role, proposing the abolition of two ministries, though specifics remain unclear. His campaign emphasizes populist appeals, leveraging his regional popularity in the Eifel area, where the party achieved 21.3% in the 2021 Bitburg-Prüm constituency. Streit, a trained lawyer and deputy federal chairman since 2023, faces questions about his credibility due to frequent political shifts, including his recent European tenure. [5]
| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | Sample size | SPD | CDU | Grüne | AfD | FDP | FW | Linke | BSW | Others | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wahlkreisprognose | 6–19 Jun 2025 | 1,400 | 24.5 | 28 | 10.5 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 5.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Infratest dimap | 27 May–3 Jun 2025 | 1,140 | 23 | 30 | 11 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | 7 |
| INSA | 25 Mar–1 Apr 2025 | 1,000 | 21 | 28 | 9 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Federal Parliament election | 23 Feb 2025 | – | 18.6 | 30.6 | 10.4 | 20.1 | 4.6 | 2.1 | 6.5 | 4.2 | 2.9 | 10.5 |
| Infratest dimap | 5–10 Dec 2024 | 1,175 | 24 | 32 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| Infratest dimap | 4–9 Jul 2024 | 1,165 | 21 | 31 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 7 | – | 5 | 9 | 10 |
| European Parliament election | 9 Jun 2024 | – | 17.5 | 30.7 | 9.3 | 14.7 | 5.9 | 5.2 | 1.7 | 4.7 | 15.5 | 13.2 |
| Infratest dimap | 15–20 Feb 2024 | 1,157 | 22 | 31 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 7 | – | 4 | 7 | 9 |
| Wahlkreisprognose | 2–11 Dec 2023 | 1,237 | 26 | 27 | 8.5 | 20 | 3.5 | 7.5 | 1.5 | – | 6 | 1 |
| Infratest dimap | 25–30 Oct 2023 | 1,048 | 22 | 31 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 5 | – | – | 8 | 9 |
| Infratest dimap | 13–18 Jul 2023 | 1,156 | 25 | 31 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 6 | – | – | 6 | 6 |
| INSA | 8–15 May 2023 | 1,000 | 28 | 27 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 2 | – | 7 | 1 |
| Infratest dimap | 27–28 Mar 2023 | 1,180 | 28 | 29 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 4 | – | – | 7 | 1 |
| Wahlkreisprognose | 14–21 Mar 2023 | 1,000 | 29 | 25 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 6.5 | 2 | – | 5.5 | 4 |
| Infratest dimap | 9–13 Dec 2022 | 1,166 | 28 | 29 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 4 | – | – | 7 | 1 |
| INSA | 7–14 Nov 2022 | 1,000 | 28 | 28 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 2 | – | 6 | Tie |
| Wahlkreisprognose | 14–17 Oct 2022 | 1,023 | 26 | 25.5 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 6.5 | 2 | – | 8 | 0.5 |
| Infratest dimap | 26–27 Sep 2022 | 1,183 | 27 | 27 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 4 | – | – | 8 | Tie |
| Wahlkreisprognose | 2–10 Jul 2022 | 1,209 | 34.5 | 26.5 | 14 | 6.5 | 5 | 6.5 | 2 | – | 5 | 8 |
| Wahlkreisprognose | 11–18 May 2022 | 1,042 | 37 | 23.5 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 2 | – | 5.5 | 13.5 |
| Wahlkreisprognose | 21–28 Mar 2022 | 1,002 | 39 | 24 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 2 | – | 7 | 15 |
| Infratest dimap | 4–8 Mar 2022 | 1,158 | 34 | 26 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 5 | – | – | 8 | 8 |
| Infratest dimap | 19–23 Nov 2021 | 1,172 | 34 | 21 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 6 | – | – | 8 | 13 |
| Wahlkreisprognose | 1–9 Nov 2021 | 1,100 | 41 | 20 | 9.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 8 | 1.5 | – | 4.5 | 21 |
| 2021 federal election | 26 Sep 2021 | – | 29.4 | 24.7 | 12.6 | 9.2 | 11.7 | 3.6 | 3.3 | – | 5.6 | 4.7 |
| Infratest dimap | 2–7 Sep 2021 | 1,160 | 40 | 23 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 3 | – | 6 | 17 |
| Infratest dimap | 9–13 Jul 2021 | 1,153 | 38 | 24 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 3 | – | 6 | 3 |
| 2021 state election | 14 Mar 2021 | – | 35.7 | 27.7 | 9.3 | 8.3 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 2.5 | – | 5.7 | 8.0 |
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