Orleans Brandão selects former São Luís mayor Edivaldo Holanda Júnior as vice‑governor candidate in Maranhão

Orleans Brandão, the pre‑candidate for governor of Maranhão (MDB), announced on 1 May via a video on social media that former São Luís mayor Edivaldo Holanda Júnior (Republicanos) will be his pre‑candidate for vice‑governor. Edivaldo, a lawyer and businessman, served two terms as mayor from 2013 to 2020, was a federal deputy elected in 2010, and previously held the post of state secretary of municipal affairs. He said he accepts the role “with much responsibility and enthusiasm” and will work “to contribute with my experience and help build a stronger, fairer Maranhão.” Brandão highlighted the partnership as a bridge between the state and the capital, aiming to strengthen the governing coalition against the current capital mayor Eduardo Braide (PSD). The announcement included footage recorded in São Luís’s historic centre, underscoring the political significance of the alliance for the 2027 gubernatorial race.