Veteran Brazilian politicians and former officials join ballot in 2026 elections
Former presidential candidates Ciro Gomes, Marina Silva, Simone Tebet, Fernando Haddad, Aécio Neves and Sergio Moro are all running in the 2026 Brazilian elections.
Brazil's 2026 elections feature a crowded field of veteran politicians. Ciro Gomes, who previously ran for president in 1998, 2002, 2018 and 2022, and Marina Silva, a three-time presidential candidate, are both on the ballot. Fernando Haddad, the 2018 presidential substitute, is now vying for the governorship of São Paulo, where polls show Tarcísio de Freitas ahead with 53.3% to Haddad's 40.1%.
The Senate contests include Marina Silva and Simone Tebet in São Paulo, Aécio Neves in Minas Gerais, and Michelle Bolsonaro heading the list in the Federal District. Other notable races involve candidates such as Guilherme Derrite, André do Prado, and Marcel von Hattem, with party dynamics shifting across states. Overall, the election registers over 20,000 candidacies for various federal and state offices.
Why it matters
The race showcases Brazil's political veterans reshaping the country's future amid shifting party dynamics.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 Lula runs ultra-cautious campaign as poll gap with Bolsonaro narrows
- Sep 13 A new poll released in early September records Bolsonaro at 46% and Lula at 45% in a hypothetical runoff.
- Sep 25 President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed an order banning online betting in Brazil, a move that takes effect immediately but needs congressional approval within 120 days.
- Sep 28 The ban is now subject to a 120‑day congressional review.
- Oct 2 Presidential debate scheduled for Oct 1 was cancelled after the electoral court barred Lula’s participation and Bolsonaro withdrew.
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