Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: The conservatives lost votes compared to 2002 , reaching only 35 % , and failed to get a majority for a `` black-yellow '' government of CDU\/CSU and liberal FDP .
Simplified: The Christian Democrats lost votes compared to 2002 , reaching only 35.2 % , and failed to get a majority for a `` black-yellow '' government of CDU\/CSU and liberal FDP .