The incumbent Christian Democratic Union (CDU) government led by Minister-President Georg Milbradt lost its majority.

The CDU subsequently formed a grand coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD), and Milbradt was re-elected as Minister-President.

The party's support was concentrated in the rural areas; commentators attributed its success to alienation stemming from economic depression.

The CDU remained the largest party with 55 of 124 seats, but lost its majority, forcing it to find coalition partners.

The most logical was the classical liberal Free Democratic Party, who entered the Landtag in the election, but a CDU–FDP government would be one seat short of the necessary majority.