José Roberto Arruda announces candidacy for Distrito Federal governor

José Roberto Arruda, a former governor of the Distrito Federal and engineer, has announced his candidacy for the 2026 elections to lead the Distrito Federal government under the PSD party.

In a significant political shift, Arruda has replaced Jorge Argello with former deputy Luiz Pitiman as his running mate. This decision follows investigations by the Federal Police involving the Gim family, which influenced the move to distance the campaign from individuals targeted by the Lava Jato operation.

Arruda’s career includes roles as a Senator, Federal Deputy, and director of the Brasília Energy Company (CEB). He is currently re-entering the electoral arena after a long career in public service and infrastructure management in the federal capital.