The incumbent coalition government of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and The Greens led by Minister-President Stephan Weil was defeated.

Though the SPD became the largest party in the Landtag largely fueled by the personal popularity of Weil, their gains were offset by losses for the Greens, depriving the government of its majority.

The SPD subsequently formed a grand coalition with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and Weil continued as Minister-President.

Following the 2013 state election, a red-green coalition between the SPD and Greens was formed, holding a one-seat majority in the Landtag.

After Green parliamentarian Elke Twesten controversially defected to the CDU on 4 August 2017, the coalition lost its majority,[1] which prompted Minister-President Stephan Weil to schedule an early election for 15 October.