Ceará brothers Ciro and Cid Gomes set to run on opposite tickets in 2026 elections

Senator Cid Gomes (PSB) confirmed his pre‑candidacy for re‑election to the Senate, backed by President Luiz Inácio Lula, Governor Elmano de Freitas and Senator Camilo Santana. Junior Mano will serve as his first suplente. The move sparked sharp criticism from opposition figures, including federal deputy Eunício Oliveira (MDB), who called Cid a “traitor” and “unreliable for any alliance”.

Meanwhile, former minister Ciro Gomes (PSDB) is running for governor of Ceará on a coalition that includes União Brasil and the PL, positioning him directly against his brother. Ciro said he expected a contest with Cid and wished his brother luck.

Senator Eduardo Girão (Novo), also a pre‑candidate for the state government, denounced recent right‑wing support for Ciro, warning that it could bolster a national project for the 2030 presidential election. Girão called the alliance “a snake that will bite us in 2030” and urged backing for Novo’s own presidential hopeful, Romeu Zema.

The competing candidacies underscore a deep split within Ceará’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 elections, with national party leaders and regional power brokers all playing pivotal roles.