The Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election on September 20, 2026, delivered confirmed preliminary results placing the CDU at 4.9% of the vote, well below the 5% threshold for Landtag entry. This outcome reflects long-term erosion of CDU support in the eastern state, accelerated by national trends under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, strong AfD gains to 38.2%, and SPD consolidation at 35.5%. Pre-election polls had already shown the CDU stuck between 6-10%, squeezed in a polarized contest between the two larger parties. Official final tallies or minor adjustments to Zweitstimmen counts remain the only factors that could alter the precise figure, though any shift above 8% appears structurally implausible given the verified tallies.