Paraíba, Espírito Santo and other states reshuffle vice candidates ahead of Brazil's 2026 elections

vice candidates 2026 elections Paraíba Efraim Filho Brazil state tickets

State‑level ticket line‑ups are being reconfigured as Brazil heads toward the 2026 elections. In Espírito Santo, Governor Ricardo Ferraço (MDB) is expected to keep a low‑profile vice after former mayor Sérgio Vidigal ruled out a candidacy. In Paraíba, Governor‑candidate Lucas Ribeiro (PP) confirmed that Deputy Adriano Galdino will not be his running mate, while Senator Efraim Filho (PL) replaced the withdrawn Juliana Cunha Lima with his wife Nayana Pontes as the vice‑governor candidate. The move, highlighted at the PL convention, underscores a shift toward a more hard‑line Bolsonarist ticket.

Other election dynamics include Luizianne Lins (Rede) pressing for the second Senate slot on Governor Elmano de Freitas’s (PT) ticket, Flávio Bolsonaro’s (PL) pre‑campaign team undergoing several marketing changes, and the PL‑MDB alliance in Mato Grosso facing resistance from mayors Abílio Brunini and Cláudio Ferreira. The Novo party endorsed Senator Wilder Morais (PL) for the Goiás governorship but will not hold a major‑ticket slot, while the Pereira family publicly backed Renan Filho (MDB) for the Alagoas governorship. Together, these moves illustrate a broader pattern of strategic candidate selections and party negotiations across Brazil’s states.

Entities

Andresa (captain) · Andresa (fire‑brigade captain) · Antonio Brito · Cabo Gilberto · Cid Gomes · Efraim Filho · Elmano de Freitas · Espírito Santo · Flávio Bolsonaro · Juliana Cunha Lima · Nayana Pontes · Progressive Union Federation

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] Efraim Filho (PL) selected Nayana Pontes as his vice‑governor candidate in Paraíba for the 2026 election. overbo.com.br · cbnparaiba.com.br
[● 2 SOURCES] Juliana Cunha Lima declined the vice‑governor slot due to pregnancy and a recent loss. paraibainforma.com.br · overbo.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] Luizianne Lins (Rede) is pressing to be the second Senate candidate on Governor Elmano de Freitas' ticket. cn7.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] Senator Wellington Fagundes (PL) chose businessman Marcelo Maluf (Novo) as his vice‑governor candidate in Mato Grosso.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Nayana Pontes is the wife of deputy Cabo Gilberto and president of PL Mulher. overbo.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ricardo Ferraço (MDB) is considering a vice‑governor candidate from the PP/União Brasil federation, with several possible names mentioned. agenciacongresso.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] Cid Gomes (PSB) announced that Romeu Aldigueri will run for the Chamber of Deputies and Tainah Marinho for the state Assembly. focuspoder.com.br
[● 2 SOURCES] The Pereira family publicly endorsed Renan Filho (MDB) for the governorship of Alagoas. estadaoalagoas.com.br · www.alagoas24horas.com.br
[● 5 SOURCES] Senator Efraim Filho (PL) selected Nayana Pontes as his vice‑governor candidate in Paraíba. overbo.com.br · paraibainforma.com.br · cbnparaiba.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] Juliana Cunha Lima withdrew from the vice‑governor slot due to pregnancy and a recent loss. paraibainforma.com.br
[● 3 SOURCES] The selection of Nayana Pontes is described as a “vice raiz” strategy that aligns the ticket with the bolsonarist right. cbnparaiba.com.br