SPD Saxony-Anhalt: Willingmann is the uncontestable top candidate!

SPD Saxony-Anhalt: Willingmann is the uncontestable top candidate!

What’s new from Saxony-Anhalt? The state executive committee of the SPD recently made a groundbreaking decision: Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann was unanimously nominated as the top candidate for the 2026 state election. This news was announced by the Dubist Hall. This is a significant step for Willingmann, who already has an impressive political career.

Shaped by his roots in Dinslaken, North Rhine-Westphalia, Willingmann has an academic career that took him to the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the University of Cologne. He is known not only as a politician, but also as a university lecturer and science manager. He has been active in the state government of Saxony-Anhalt since 2016, first as Minister for Economics and Science, and since 2021 as Minister for Science, Energy, Climate Protection and the Environment and First Deputy Prime Minister. His successes did not go unnoticed, as he was named “Science Minister of the Year” several times n-tv reported.

The path to the nomination

The official confirmation of his nomination will take place on September 6, 2025 at the state party conference in the Palais Saalfeldt in Quedlinburg. Willingmann himself emphasizes that politics must remain understandable and that his goal is to improve people's everyday lives. The concept of cohesion plays a central role in Saxony-Anhalt.
The SPD also wants to communicate more clearly where the political differences lie with coalition partners and opposition competitors. Secretary General Florian Fahrmann underlines the importance of a strong team around Willingmann for the upcoming election campaign.

An active state that offers reliability in schools, a structured energy transition and security - these are issues that are close to Willingmann's heart. In particular, social acceptance of solutions for the expansion of renewable energies should be strengthened.

The future strategy

The SPD plans to put forward suitable candidates in all 41 constituencies, while the lists for the coming elections in January 2026 will take place at a party conference in Bernburg. The nominations in the district associations are already in full swing and show the party's willingness to position itself well.

Armin Willingmann not only comes from an academic background, but has also been politically active in many areas. He became a member of the Wernigerode city council in 1999 and headed the economic committee until 2016. In addition to his political activities, he has also served on various boards, including the Saxony-Anhalt consumer advice center.

A look at the Dinslaken native shows that he is not just a politician, but also a family man. Willingmann is married and has two adult children, which gives him a certain grounding and motivates and spurs him on in his political endeavors.

The coming months promise to be exciting as the SPD in Saxony-Anhalt prepares for the elections. With Willingmann at the helm, the party has elected an accomplished and experienced leader who wants to tackle the challenges that the future holds - both for Saxony-Anhalt and for Germany.