Overview

• Manuel Hagel was officially selected as the CDU Spitzenkandidat for the March 2026 Baden-Württemberg state election during a party convention in Stuttgart.
• Hagel received overwhelming backing from delegates, securing 93.8% of the vote, reflecting an unusually unified CDU state party.
• Current polling places the CDU at 31%, leading the Greens (20%) and AfD (19%) as Hagel prepares to challenge Green candidate Cem Özdemir.
• If elected, Hagel would become the youngest Minister-President in Baden-Württemberg's history, succeeding Winfried Kretschmann after 15 years of Green leadership.
• Hagel’s campaign must balance appealing to diverse voter groups while addressing critiques of his limited policy substance and lower name recognition compared to Özdemir.