Knut Abraham was a member of Young Union before joining the CDU in 1985. In 2009, 2014 and 2019 Abraham ran unsuccessfully for the European Parliament. In the 2021 German federal election he contested Elbe-Elster – Oberspreewald-Lausitz II, but was elected to the 20th German Bundestag via the state list. In parliament, he has since been serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid.

In addition to his committee assignments, Abraham is a member of the German delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). In the Assembly, he serves on the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.