It was formed after the resignation of Minister-President Armin Laschet, and was a continuation of the coalition government of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Free Democratic Party (FDP) formed after the 2017 North Rhine-Westphalia state election.

Since the constitution of North Rhine-Westphalia prohibits members of the Bundestag from serving concurrently in the state government, he was obliged to resign as Minister-President.

[1] On 5 October, Laschet proposed transport minister Hendrik Wüst his successor.

[2] He was subsequently elected uncontested as chairman of the North Rhine-Westphalia CDU on 23 October, receiving 98% approval.

[4] Wüst was elected as Minister-President by the Landtag on 27 October, winning 103 votes out of 197 cast.