Podemos party outlines candidate slate for 2026 Mato Grosso elections

The Podemos party in Mato Grosso announced its candidate slate for the 2026 elections. At a state convention in Cuiabá, the party presented 34 names: 25 for the state Assembly and nine for the Chamber of Deputies. Party president Max Russi said the list aims to secure at least six, possibly seven, seats in the Assembly and up to three federal deputy seats. The federal list includes former deputy Neri Geller, current deputy Nelson Barbudo, Pastor Marcos Ritela, and former military officer Coronel Roveri, among others.

Podemos also confirmed the candidacy of councilwoman Katiuscia Manteli for the federal chamber. The party has ruled out fielding its own candidate for governor and will decide on a major‑party alliance with the PL and MDB in the coming days, a process that has sparked internal tensions among local leaders.