Brazil's President Lula backs João Campos for Pernambuco governor

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced his endorsement of João Campos (PSB) for the governorship of Pernambuco in a video released on 15 June 2026. Lula described the support as a "historic commitment" resulting from a long‑standing, productive relationship between the PT and PSB, and said the alliance is the "largest national alliance" for his party.

The endorsement follows rumours of a possible dual backing of both Campos and incumbent Governor Raquel Lyra (PSD) and a brief intra‑party crisis sparked by comments from minister Wellington Dias. Campos thanked Lula, emphasizing a shared duty to develop Pernambuco and promising to continue the "Chega Junto Pernambuco" popular‑participation platform.

Polls have shown a tight race: Datafolha indicated Lyra leading in a first‑round scenario, while more recent Real‑Time Big Data surveys gave Campos a slight edge. The move is part of the PT‑PSB strategy to solidify a coalition ahead of Brazil's 2026 elections.