The center-left Social Democrats (SPD) finished second on 25.9%, marking a major setback for the party after decades of dominance in the state. The result heaps further pressure on the SPD – which is in coalition with the CDU on a national level – after another poor performance in Baden-Württemberg earlier this month. Far-right insurgents Alternative for Germany took third spot with 19.5% of the vote, backing up strong results in regional elections, as the Greens trailed with 7.9%. The outcome is likely to deepen concerns within the SPD about its leadership, while giving fresh momentum to the CDU as Germany’s political balance continues to shift to the right.