The Left nominates candidates for the 2026 state election in the Esslingen district!

The Left nominates candidates for the 2026 state election in the Esslingen district!

The Left in the Esslingen district has nominated candidates for the upcoming state elections in 2026. This was reported by the Esslinger newspaper. Martin Auerbach, Clara Meier and Anil Besli will be on the ballot paper, while at the same time the party can look forward to an increase in members - there are currently 338 members. In order to strengthen the local structures, the district board is planning to establish new local associations.

A central point for the election campaign will be the issue of housing and public transport. The Left relies on discussing these issues directly with citizens in a door-to-door election campaign. In the 2021 state elections in Baden-Württemberg, the party received 3.6 percent of the vote and missed entry into the state parliament. In 2026, however, the Left hopes to overcome the five percent hurdle and thus enter the state parliament.

Political situation and challenges

The state election in Baden-Württemberg will take place on March 8, 2026, and the final election results are expected to be announced before the Easter holidays. A coalition of the Greens and the CDU currently governs the state. The poll situation remains exciting, with the CDU leading the Greens, while the Left is at seven percent. The FDP is fighting for entry, while the AfD and SPD would certainly be represented in the state parliament.

A look at the current political debate shows how busy the left is with questions about social justice, integration and housing policy. In a current application process, the need for a separate concept for housing policy in the district was emphasized, especially in view of the increasing number of homeless people. These concerns were also taken up in the budget speech, where the bottlenecks in integration and language courses were criticized as they could hinder successful integration.

Change in values ​​as a strong influencing factor

The change in social values ​​plays a decisive role in the political landscape. As in the Federal Agency for Civic Education described, this change influences the value priorities of voters. The sociologist Ronald Inglehart formulated that social development and economic prosperity play a key role in realigning values. In times of post-industrial society, the needs for self-development and social justice come to the fore.

The left must adapt to these changes in order to be successful. The discursive framework of the political landscape is being viewed increasingly critically, especially with regard to the reduction of debates to migration issues. The parliamentary group has signaled that it would like to deal more intensively with the necessary measures in the areas of housing and health care, such as the closure of the emergency practice in Kirchheim.

The challenge for the Left in the Esslingen district is to meet the expectations of citizens and offer solutions that improve the quality of life. With the new nominations and a clear focus on social justice and public transport, the Left wants to increase its influence in the political landscape of Baden-Württemberg.