Germany's far-right AfD party seeks second state win in Brandenburg election

The upcoming regional election in Brandenburg, a state in eastern Germany, is expected to be a closely contested race. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is running almost neck and neck with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), with the SPD holding a slight lead of 28% according to final polls. The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) are polling at 14%, while the new leftist conservative Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance is at 13%. The AfD's strong showing is notable, as it has been gaining popularity among young voters and has already won state elections in Saxony and Thuringia. A win for the AfD in Brandenburg would be a significant embarrassment for Chancellor Scholz, who lives in Potsdam. The election is being closely watched, despite Brandenburg being one of the smallest German states, due to the potential implications for the national government.