# Berlin 2026 election: CDU polls drop as voting age lowers > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/berlin-digital-secretary-resignation-saga > Updated: 2026-08-10T17:54:00.000Z. Sources: 32. Developments: 13. The Berlin state election on 20 September 2026 is approaching amid significant political volatility for the CDU. Following the resignation of State Secretary Matthias Hundt due to an insolvency investigation—a request he later retracted—Mayor Kai Wegner was re-nominated as the CDU lead candidate with 92.6% of the vote in June. Despite this nomination, polling shows a sharp decline for the CDU. A July 2 BerlinTrend poll placed the party at 17%, an 11-point drop from 2023, trailing Die Linke (20%), the Greens (19%), and the AfD (18%). Wegner has called these results a “warning signal.” Criticism has intensified due to a controversial campaign video regarding antisemitism and the “Tennisgate” blackout episode. Meanwhile, SPD candidate Steffen Krach has attacked Wegner as “the most ambitious-less government chief in Germany.” Election reforms will introduce a single ballot system and lower the voting age to 16, potentially adding 50,000 young voters to the electorate. To encourage participation, the House of Representatives has launched the “Wähl dir dein Berlin” campaign. As postal voting begins, officials are monitoring for potential foreign disinformation. The election will also determine policy directions for sectors such as the city’s games industry, with the CDU and SPD offering competing digital and economic agendas. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-10: Berlin launches campaign ahead of September 20 elections Berlin has launched a non-partisan campaign to boost turnout for the September 20 elections, which will see 16- and 17-year-olds voting for the state parliament for the first time. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-launches-campaign-ahead-of-september-20-elections ### 2026-07-12: Berlin election 2026 expands voting rights to 16‑year‑olds Berlin’s 20 Sept 2026 election will choose the Abgeordnetenhaus and district assemblies, introducing voting for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds and involving about 2.4 million voters. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-election-2026-expands-voting-rights-to-16yearolds ### 2026-07-05: Berlin CDU faces backlash over campaign video and plunging poll support The Berlin CDU withdrew a campaign video over antisemitism criticism, then restored it unchanged, while a poll shows its support sinking to 17% ahead of the September state election. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-cdu-faces-backlash-over-campaign-video-and-plunging-poll-support ### 2026-07-02: AfD tops German polls as CDU falls to fourth in Berlin election AfD leads national polls at 27 %, hits 40 % in Thuringia, while CDU drops to 22 % nationally and 17 % in Berlin, sparking warnings from mayor Wegner and low approval for Chancellor Merz. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-mayor-kai-wegner-warns-of-cdu-collapse-ahead-of-september-state-election ### 2026-06-24: Berlin SPD candidate Steffen Krach slams Markus Söder and Kai Wegner SPD Berlin candidate Steffen Krach criticised CSU leader Markus Söder as a reform blocker and Berlin mayor Kai Wegner for inactivity, framing both as obstacles ahead of the September state election. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-spd-candidate-steffen-krach-slams-markus-sder-and-kai-wegner ### 2026-06-23: Berlin State Election 2026 Introduces Single Ballot and Lowers Voting Age to 16 Berlin’s 2026 state election will use a single ballot, extend voting rights to 16‑year‑olds, add more polling sites and allocate €7.6 million for logistics, while preparing against foreign disinformation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-state-election-2026-introduces-single-ballot-and-lowers-voting-age-to-16 ### 2026-06-17: SPD unveils 2026 Berlin election program The SPD has published its 2026 election program for Berlin, outlining policies on affordable housing, social participation, education, and a strong economy, and is available online as a PDF. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spd-unveils-2026-berlin-election-program ### 2026-06-16: Berlin election race shapes future of city’s games industry Berlin’s 20 Sept election will decide the city’s games‑industry policy, with both CDU and SPD outlining funding, the House of Games venue and E‑Sport initiatives. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-election-race-shapes-future-of-citys-games-industry ### 2026-06-13: Germany Berlin polls show CDU ahead despite low approval for Mayor Wegner Berlin polls show the CDU at 22% ahead of the AfD despite low approval for Mayor Wegner; a national Insa poll puts the Union at 22% and SPD at 13%, with the AfD leading at 29%. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-berlin-polls-show-cdu-ahead-despite-low-approval-for-mayor-wegner ### 2026-06-10: CDU Confirms Lead Candidates in Berlin and Wuppertal for Upcoming State Elections CDU re‑elected Berlin mayor Kai Wegner as lead candidate after a secret ballot and set its Wuppertal nominees, including mayor Rainer Spiecker, for the 2027 state election. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cdu-confirms-lead-candidates-in-berlin-and-wuppertal-for-upcoming-state-elections ### 2026-06-09: Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner Re‑nominated as CDU Lead Candidate for State Election Berlin's CDU re‑nominated Mayor Kai Wegner as its lead candidate for the September 20 state election, securing 92.6% of a secret ballot despite minor dissent. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-mayor-kai-wegner-renominated-as-cdu-lead-candidate-for-state-election ### 2026-05-28: Berlin digital chief Matthias Hundt retracts resignation request amid insolvency investigation Berlin's digital chief Matthias Hundt retracts his resignation request as investigations into his former consulting firm's insolvency and a prosecutor's probe intensify; Florian Hauer named as his successor. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-digital-chief-matthias-hundt-retracts-resignation-request-amid-insolvency-investigation ### 2026-05-26: Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner's digital secretary quits amid probe Berlin’s digital state secretary Matthias Hundt resigned after a probe into insolvency allegations, heightening criticism of Mayor Kai Wegner’s staffing and jeopardising his CDU candidacy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/berlin-mayor-kai-wegners-digital-secretary-quits-amid-probe --- Cite as: Berlin 2026 election: CDU polls drop as voting age lowers. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/berlin-digital-secretary-resignation-saga