German exit polls suggest far-right party has big lead in regional election

The Alternative for Germany party has a strong lead in a regional election, but it is unclear if it will be able to form Germany's's first far-right state government since WWII, exit polls indicate.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3376x2251+0+0/resize/3376x2251!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F87%2F2b%2F18c9cb3346b3b36ea5ce83575239%2Fap26249325207672.jpg' alt='Ulrich Siegmund, top candidate for the "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) party votes at a polling station during the Saxony-Anhalt state elections in Tangermuende, eastern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.'/><p>The Alternative for Germany party has a strong lead in a regional election, but it is unclear if it will be able to form Germany's's first far-right state government since WWII, exit polls indicate.</p><p>(Image credit: Matthias Schrader)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5955677' />