In 1987, Rau was his party's candidate to become chancellor of Germany for the SPD, but he lost the elections against Helmut Kohl’s Christian Democrats (CDU). In 1994, Rau was a candidate to become President of Germany but lost the 1994 German presidential election to Roman Herzog.
in 1987 rau was his party's candidate to become chancellor of germany for the spd but he lost the elections against helmut kohl’s christian democrats (cdu) in 1994 rau was a candidate to become president of germany but lost the 1994 german presidential election to roman herzog