Pernambuco 2026 elections intensify as candidates launch campaigns

The 2026 electoral race in Pernambuco has intensified with the start of mandatory television and radio propaganda. Governor Raquel Lyra (PSD) has launched an emotional campaign focusing on her personal resilience and state investments, such as R$ 90 million in landslide prevention in Jardim Monte Verde. Meanwhile, former Recife Mayor João Campos (PSB) is campaigning across the state, including in Caruaru, promising to expand the Compaz community centers and criticizing the current administration for a perceived loss of regional leadership in infrastructure and employment.

Polling data from Instituto Múltipla indicates a fragmented field for the State Assembly and Federal Chamber. For the governorship, a Quaest poll suggests Lyra holds 47% of potential second-round votes compared to 37% for Campos. Political tensions are rising as the PSB legal team prepares judicial action regarding allegations of a ‘hate cabinet,’ a move Mendonça Filho (PL) dismissed as a sign of political desperation.

Other candidates, including Ivan Moraes (PSOL), have also begun their televised broadcasts, marking the first phase of the official electoral guide for the state.