SPD's regional officials elect Krach as their preferred choice for top candidate

In the heart of Germany, the political landscape of Berlin is abuzz with anticipation as two prominent figures, Steffen Krach and Kai Wegner, prepare for a significant showdown.

Steffen Krach, a seasoned politician, has been designated as the top candidate for the 2026 Berlin state election, following a unanimous approval by the party leadership on Wednesday, with one abstention. Krach, who is 46 years old, has a rich political history in Berlin, having held the position of State Secretary for Science from 2014 to 2021. Prior to his current role as the President of the Region of Hannover since 2021, Krach was actively involved in Berlin politics.

On the other side of the political spectrum, Kai Wegner, the current Governing Mayor of Berlin and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is expected to lead his party into the 2026 election as the top candidate, in coalition with the SPD. Wegner, who has been the ruling Mayor of Berlin since 2023, will express his views on current topics and provide insights into the coming months at a summer press conference in the town hall today.

As the designated top candidate, Krach has made it clear that his political goal is to reverse the negative trend of the Berlin SPD and win the Red City Hall in the 2026 election for the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Wegner's press conference is also scheduled for today, where he is expected to discuss the CDU's strategies and priorities leading up to the election.

The official crowning of Krach as the top candidate will take place at a party conference on November 15. The press conference for Krach is scheduled for the morning, while Wegner's press conference is taking place in the town hall.

As the race for Berlin's political future unfolds, both candidates are presenting their plans and political priorities to the media and the public, setting the stage for an exciting and closely contested election in 2026.