It was not at all obvious that Armin Laschet would win the battle to lead Germany's largest, and probably Europe's most important, party.
The other two candidates, who both promised a fresh start and change, actually got more votes together.
But when in the final round it was between "the same ruts" and "new direction", the party took the safe before the unsafe.
No color clicks
He was the only candidate who had previously won an election, and who actually ruled - namely Germany's largest state with 18 million inhabitants.
But he is not a color click.
Armin Laschet admitted before the vote, with almost touching self-awareness, that he is not a perfect creation.
Maybe this was the moment when he won over sympathies.
For the problem he shares with the other two candidates is that no one is popular enough to lift the CDU ahead of this autumn's German election.
So the realization of one's own weakness may be just what the new party leader needs.
Because there is traction help available.
Hard to reach conservatives
Laschet finds it difficult to reach conservative Germans, not least those who have left the party on the right wing.
He will need the help of his partner, the popular Minister of Health Jens Spahn, from the conservative wing.
Until necessary, even if it would be painful, he must also refrain from competing for the job as Chancellor before the autumn elections.
He may have won a major partial victory today, but it is not enough to just continue in Merkel's footsteps to become Chancellor.