Republicanos names Anthony Garotinho as candidate for Rio de Janeiro governorship

The Republicanos party officially selected former Rio de Janeiro governor Anthony Garotinho as its candidate for the state’s 2026 gubernatorial election. The decision was taken at an extraordinary assembly on July 18 and will be formalised at the party’s state convention on July 25.

Garotinho, whose 2022 electoral ban was lifted after the Supreme Federal Court annulled his conviction, will run for a fourth time for the Rio de Janeiro governorship. The party’s internal contest pitted him against former Miguel Pereira mayor André Português, with the party commissioning a Qualitative‑Quantitative poll from Instituto PreFab Future to decide the winner.

Republicanos also announced former deputy and ex‑mayor Marcelo Crivella as its Senate candidate. Garotinho suggested former BOPE commander Colonel Venâncio Moura as a possible running‑mate for vice‑governor, pending alliance talks. In a live broadcast he said, “A disputa é válida. Na democracia, o que vale é disputar.”