On 11 July 2009, the party convention of the Bavarian State Association of the SPD elected him with 89.7% of the delegate votes as successor of Ludwig Stiegler to the state chairman. In 2011 and 2013 Pronold was confirmed to this office. In May 2013, SPD candidate for chancellor Peer Steinbrück brought Florian Pronold into his competence team for the 2013 federal election. Pronold was to be responsible for transport and infrastructure. In 2013, the SPD won the second-worst election result of its party history on one hand, but improved in comparison to 2009.