Ronaldo Caiado intensifies 2026 presidential campaign strategy

Ronaldo Caiado, the PSD presidential candidate, is intensifying his campaign strategy through regional alliances and engagement with the business sector. During recent events in São Paulo, Caiado and his running mate, Gilberto Kassab, emphasized building state-by-state political bases, particularly in the Northeast, to compensate for the lack of a unified national center-right coalition.

Caiado has criticized the economic management of previous administrations and the current government, specifically targeting PT's social policies and the fiscal situation. He has also addressed technological governance, noting that while he and President Lula agree on the importance of digital infrastructure, they diverge on the regulation of artificial intelligence and digital platforms.

In terms of security, Caiado proposed creating a crime of ‘domestic terrorism’ to combat criminal organizations and expressed interest in appointing prosecutor Lincoln Gakiya as Minister of Public Security. Additionally, his campaign has made moves in the legislative sphere, announcing Alexandre Baldy as the first substitute for Gracinha Caiado’s Senate bid in Goiás.