CDU Leads North Rhine-Westphalia Elections as AfD Gains Ground

In the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is projected to remain the strongest party with about 34% of the vote, holding steady from its 2020 performance. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is expected to come in second with around 22.5%, a decline from its previous vote share. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains, more than tripling its share to 16.5%, surpassing the Greens, who saw a sharp drop to 11.5% from their 2020 high of 20%. Voter turnout increased to approximately 58.5%, the highest since 1994, with younger voters (16-24) favoring the CDU and SPD over the AfD. The elections serve as the first major test of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's federal government, highlighting shifts in the political landscape, particularly the rise of the AfD in western Germany. Local races in major cities like Gelsenkirchen and Cologne indicate competitive dynamics, with the AfD potentially influencing runoffs but not overtaking the leading parties.