Senate races and governor‑vice alliances shape Brazil's 2026 election landscape
A DMP poll for the Amazonas Senate race places incumbent Eduardo Braga (MDB) first with 21.8% of combined first‑ and second‑vote intentions, ahead of federal deputy Capitão Alberto Neto (PL) at 17.3%. The same survey shows Braga leading in every demographic segment, including both capital and interior voters.
In Rio de Janeiro, an August poll by the Paraná Institute finds former federal deputy Benedita da Silva (PT) leading the two Senate seats with about 34% support, followed by Marcelo Crivella (REP) around 26% and a close tie between Márcio Canella (União) and Pedro Paulo (PSD) near 22%.
The MDB is weighing coalition options ahead of state elections. Deputy Eduardo Botelho said the party will wait for approaches from gubernatorial hopefuls and is discussing deputy Janaina Riva as a possible vice‑candidate for governor Otaviano Pivetta (Republicanos) and senator Jayme Campos (União Brasil), with a potential “double ticket” involving José Medeiros for the Senate.
In Goiás, a long list of politicians seeks the vice‑governor slot alongside incumbent governor Daniel Vilela (MDB), including Adriano da Rocha Lima (PSD), Luiz Carlos do Carmo (PSD), José Mário Schreiner (PSD) and others, each promoted by different party factions.
Mato Grosso’s internal PSD dispute also surfaced when Cuiabá mayor Abílio Brunini criticized Senator Carlos Fávaro for favoring former mayor Emanuel Pinheiro over Natasha Slhessarenko in the race for the state’s governorship candidacy.