2026 Rio de Janeiro general election

2026 Rio de Janeiro general election
Gubernatorial election
4 October 2026 (2026-10-04) (first round)
Opinion polls
Incumbent Governor

TBD


Senatorial election
4 October 2026 (2026-10-04) (one-only round)
Opinion polls
Incumbent Senators

Flávio Bolsonaro and Carlos Portinho
PL


The 2026 Rio de Janeiro general election will be held on 4 October 2026 in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Voters will elect a Governor, a Vice-Governor, two Senators, 46 representatives for the Chamber of Deputies, and 70 Legislative Assembly members. If no candidate for President or Governor receives a majority of the valid votes in the first round, a runoff election is held on 25 October.

As former Governor and Vice-Governor, Cláudio Castro and Thiago Pampolha, respectively, resigned, the Legislative Assembly will hold an indirect election to fill these positions. The winners of this indirect election will be eligible for reelection in October. Incumbent senators Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) and Carlos Portinho (PL) (who assumed the seat following the death of Arolde de Oliveira in 2020) are completing their eight-year terms and are eligible to run for reelection or other offices.

Background

Electoral calendar

Note: This section only presents the main dates of the 2026 electoral calendar, check the TSE official website (in Portuguese) and other official sources for detailed information.

Electoral calendar
15 May Start of crowdfunding of candidates
20 July to 5 August Party conventions for choosing candidates and coalitions
16 August to 1 October Period of exhibition of free electoral propaganda on radio, television and on the internet related to the first round
4 October First round of 2026 elections
9 October to 23 October Period of exhibition of free electoral propaganda on radio, television and on the internet related to a possible second round
25 October Possible second round of 2026 elections
until 19 December Delivery of electoral diplomas for those who were elected in the 2026 elections by the Brazilian Election Justice

Governor

Incumbent Governor Cláudio Castro was elected in the first round of the 2022 election with 58.67% of the vote, defeating Marcelo Freixo of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB). Castro, who was originally elected as Vice-Governor in 2018 on the same ticket as Wilson Witzel, assumed the Governorship permanently in May 2021 following Witzel's impeachment and removal from office. Because he served the remainder of Witzel's term and was reelected for a full term in 2022, he is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive period in executive office.[1][2]

Castro governed alone, since Vice-Governor Thiago Pampolha of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) resigned from office in 2025.[3] Pampolha was elected on the Brazil Union (União) ticket in 2022 but switched to the MDB in 2024, a move that caused significant political friction within the governing coalition and led to his dismissal from the State Secretariat of the Environment.[4] Pampolha's resignation opened a path for the President of the Legislative Assembly, Rodrigo Bacellar, to take over as Governor if Castro also resigned.[5][6]

Senator

Senators in Brazil serve an 8-year term, meaning the incumbents were elected in 2018.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, was elected to the Senate in 2018. A prominent figure in the Liberal Party (PL), he is eligible for re-election. In December 2025, however, he was announced as his father's candidate in the 2026 presidential election.[7]

Carlos Portinho, a lawyer specializing in sports law, holds the second Senate seat as of March 2026. He was elected as the first alternate to Arolde de Oliveira (PSD) in 2018. Portinho assumed the office permanently in November 2020 after Oliveira died from complications of COVID-19. He has since become a key leadership figure for the opposition in the Senate and is eligible to run for a full term.[8]

Gubernatorial candidates

Declared candidates

Expressed interest

Speculated by the media

  • Lindbergh Farias (PT), former Student Union leader, Federal Deputy (since 2023), former City Councilor of Rio de Janeiro (2021–2023), former Senator (2011–2019), former Mayor of Nova Iguaçu (2005–2010), former Federal Deputy (1995–2004), and candidate for Governor of Rio de Janeiro in 2014.
  • Felipe Curi (PL), policeman, Secretary of Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State (since 2023).[19]
  • Nicola Miccione (PL), Chief of Staff of Rio de Janeiro State (since 2020).[20]
  • André Ceciliano (PT), former Secretary of Institutional Affairs of the Federal Government (2023-2026), former President of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (2019-2023), former State Deputy (1999-2000, 2011-2023), former Mayor of Paracambi (2001-2008), candidate for Senator representing Rio de Janeiro in 2022, candidate for Mayor of Paracambi in 1996 and candidate for Mayor of Japeri in 2008, 2012 and 2016.[20][21][22]
  • Chico Machado (Solidariedade), State Deputy (since 2023).[23]
  • Fred Pacheco (Mobiliza), State Deputy (since 2023).[24]

Declined or withdrew

  • Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), lawyer, Senator (since 2019), former State Deputy (2003–2019), and candidate for Mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
  • Rodrigo Bacellar (União), lawyer, President of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (since 2023), State Deputy (since 2019) and former Secretary of Government of Rio de Janeiro State (2021–2022).
  • Washington Reis (MDB), businessman, former Secretary of Transport of Rio de Janeiro State (2023–2025), former Mayor of Duque de Caxias (2005-2008, 2017–2022), former Federal Deputy (2011–2017) and candidate for Vice-Governor of Rio de Janeiro in 2022.[25]

Senatorial candidates

Declared candidates

Possible candidates

  • Benedita da Silva (PT), former Governor of Rio de Janeiro (2002-2003), former Vice-Governor of Rio de Janeiro (1999-2002), former Senator (1995-1999), Federal Deputy (1987-1995, since 2011).[26]

Declined or withdrew

  • Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), lawyer, current Senator (since 2019), former State Deputy (2003–2019), and candidate for Mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Ineligible

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Apuração da Eleição 2022 para Governador no Rio de Janeiro" [2022 Election Results for Governor in Rio de Janeiro]. g1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  2. ↑ Magalhães, Guilherme (2 October 2022). "Cláudio Castro é reeleito governador do RJ em 1º turno" [Cláudio Castro is re-elected Governor of Rio de Janeiro in the first round]. JOTA Jornalismo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  3. ↑ Natario, Gustavo (21 May 2025). "DEPUTADOS APROVAM, EM PLENÁRIO, INDICAÇÃO DE THIAGO PAMPOLHA PARA CONSELHEIRO DO TCE-RJ" [Deputies approve appointment of Thiago Pampolha as TCE-RJ Justice]. ALERJ. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Vice rompe politicamente com Claudio Castro: 'Relação será institucional'" [Vice-Governor politically breaks from Claudio Castro: "Relationship will be institutional"]. Veja (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Alencar, Marcus (21 May 2025). "Thiago Pampolha's resignation marks transition to TCE advisor". Agenda do Poder. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Renúncia de Pampolha muda linha sucessória no Rio" [Pampolha's resignation changes line of succession in Rio] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Super Rádio Tupi. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  7. ↑ "Bolsonaro's senator son touts father's backing for 2026 Brazil presidential run". Reuters. 6 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Ao vivo: Carlos Portinho (PSD-RJ) toma posse como senador" [Live: Carlos Portinho (PSD-RJ) takes office as Senator]. Poder360 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 3 November 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Rio mayor eyes six candidates for 2026 ticket". Valor International. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Os planos de Glauber Braga durante a suspensão da Câmara" [Glauber Braga's plans during the Chamber's recess]. PlatôBR (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 December 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "Eleição para o governo do Rio já vive corrida para atrair Centrão" [Election for Governor of Rio has race to attract Centrão]. O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 "Douglas Ruas é candidato do PL ao governo do RJ; Castro vai ao Senado" [Douglas Ruas is the PL's candidate for Governor of Rio; Castro will go to the Senate]. g1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 24 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Flávio fez movimento isolado, e PP se sente liberado para outra candidatura, diz líder do partido" [Flávio makes isolated movement, and PP feels free to support another candidate, says party leader]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 December 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Eduardo Paes lidera pesquisa para o Rio de Janeiro em 2026" [Eduardo Paes leads poll for Rio de Janeiro in 2026]. Gazeta do Povo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 27 May 2025. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  17. ↑ "Ele volta? Witzel anuncia filiação ao DC em 6 de março e pré-candidatura a governador" [Is he back? Witzel announces that he joined DC on 6 March and that he is pre-candidate for Governor] (in Brazilian Portuguese). 19 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "Ex-prefeito de Miguel Pereira, André Português articula pré-candidatura ao governo do RJ" [Ex-Mayor of Miguel Pereira, André Português articulates pre-candidacy to Rio de Janeiro government] (in Brazilian Portuguese). 20 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  19. ↑ "Com pré-candidatura de Flávio Bolsonaro ao Planalto, direita do Rio afunila nomes para comando do estado" [With Flávio Bolsonaro a pre-candidate to the Planalto, Rio's right-wing narrows options for leading the State]. O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  20. 1 2 Abreu, Ricardo (21 January 2026). "Rio pode ter duas eleições para governador em um ano? Entenda o que é o mandato-tampão" [Could Rio have two gubernatorial elections in one year? Understand what the interim mandate is]. g1. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  21. ↑ Barreira, Gabriel (4 February 2019). "Derrota em Japeri, prisões e Coaf: a trajetória do petista André Ceciliano até a presidência da Alerj" [Defeat in Japeri, prison and Financial Activity Control Council: Petista André Ceciliano's journey to the Presidency of the ALERJ] (in Brazilian Portuguese). g1. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  22. ↑ "Eleições 2016: André Ceciliano diz por que quer ser prefeito de Japeri" [Elections 2016: André Ceciliano says why he wants to be Mayor of Japeri] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Japeri Online. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  23. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  24. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  25. ↑ "Washington Reis diz que não será candidato em 2026 e promete virar "o maior cabo eleitoral do Rio"" [Washington Reis says he won't be candidate in 2026 and promises to become "the biggest electoral decider in Rio"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  26. ↑ "Benedita anuncia sua pré-candidatura ao Senado" [Benedita announces that she is pre-candidate for the Senate]. Sinfrerj (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  27. ↑ "Cláudio Castro deixa governo do Rio em abril" [Cláudio Castro leaves Rio government in April]. Exame (in Brazilian Portuguese). 15 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  28. ↑ Vivas, Fernanda (24 March 2026). "TSE torna ex-governador do Rio de Janeiro Cláudio Castro inelegível" [TSE makes ex-Governor of Rio, Cláudio Castro, ineligible]. g1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 25 March 2026.
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