The Berlin SPD has selected Steffen Krach as its lead candidate for the 2026 Abgeordnetenhaus elections, a move signaling a potential strategic shift for the party as it battles a challenging political landscape. The unanimous decision, reached at the state party conference on Saturday, underscores the urgency felt within the SPD following a significant erosion of public support.
Currently relegated to third place in opinion polls, trailing both their CDU coalition partners and the resurgent Die Linke, the SPD faces a formidable challenge. The rise of the AfD and the Green Party further tightens the competition, creating a volatile environment ahead of the crucial 2026 vote.
Krach, in his acceptance speech, explicitly embraced the role of “underdog” a calculated move designed to resonate with voters disillusioned by established political narratives. His initial focus on housing and family policy suggests an attempt to address critical voter concerns and carve out a distinct identity for the SPD in a crowded field.
Specifically, Krach emphasized a stringent enforcement of rent control measures, calling for substantial fines for violations. This stance aligns with a key area of voter discontent and represents a direct challenge to the current housing policies, which many feel have failed to deliver affordable living options for Berliners. His ambition to transform Berlin into “Europe’s family metropolis” encompasses affordability, but crucially emphasizes tolerance and cosmopolitanism – a subtle jab at rising nationalist sentiments within the city.
Krach’s background, previously serving as Berlin’s State Secretary for Science from 2014 to 2021 and later transitioning to the role of Regional President in Hannover, provides a degree of experience and perceived competence. However, his appointment also raises questions. His time in Hannover, while successful in some areas, was not without its controversies and the transferability of his regional governance experience to the complexities of Berlin’s municipal politics remains to be seen.
The selection of Krach represents a clear acknowledgement within the SPD that a new approach is required to regain voter confidence. Whether his focus on familiar policy areas and a strategic embrace of the “underdog” narrative will prove successful in navigating the turbulent waters of Berlin politics remains a key question facing the party as the 2026 election campaign unfolds.
