# Brazil 2026 election candidate selection and campaigning > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-2026-election-candidate-selection > Updated: 2026-08-10T14:03:00.000Z. Sources: 144. Developments: 4. As the 2026 Brazilian general elections approach, political activity is intensifying through regional debates and the finalization of candidate registrations. Several state-level debates have recently taken place, including contests for the governments of Bahia, Goiás, the Federal District, and Rio de Janeiro. In the Federal District, six primary candidates participated in a Band debate, focusing on health, education, and technology. In Bahia, candidates Jerônimo Rodrigues and ACM Neto clashed over healthcare infrastructure. Meanwhile, in Rio de Janeiro, candidate Eduardo Paes withdrew from a scheduled debate, citing legal guidance regarding the official campaign start date. In Goiás, the absence of incumbent Daniel Vilela from a debate was a notable point of discussion among opponents. Electoral logistics are advancing, with the distribution of over 18,000 electronic voting machines in Santa Catarina and the establishment of deadlines for voters to request transit voting. The Electoral Justice has issued strict guidelines regarding the opening of campaign bank accounts to ensure transparency. Furthermore, political parties are implementing new filters to prevent individuals linked to criminal factions from running for office, following recommendations from the Public Electoral Ministry. Polling data indicates a highly polarized landscape. Cila Schulman, CEO of IDEIA Institute, noted that a significant portion of the population expresses distrust in electronic voting machines. Recent surveys show a tight race for the presidency, with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro remaining the primary contenders. The field of contenders increasingly features prominent figures from the football world. Recent announcements include former striker Edmundo running for federal deputy in Rio de Janeiro (PSDB), Luís Fabiano and Finazzi seeking federal deputy seats in São Paulo (MDB), and Washington “Coração Valente” running for federal deputy in the Federal District (MDB). ## Claims - The deadline for requesting voting in transit for the October elections is August 20. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The first round of elections is scheduled for October 4, 2026. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The second round of elections is scheduled for October 25, 2026. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Brazilian voters residing abroad can request to vote in transit if they are in Brazil during the election, but only for the presidency. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The deadline for parties, federations, and coalitions to submit candidate registration requests to the Electoral Justice is 7:00 PM on August 15, 2026. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Voters may request voting in transit for different cities in each of the two election rounds. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Eduardo Paes's campaign cited legal guidance for his absence from the Band debate. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Six leading candidates for the Government of the Federal District participated in the first Band debate. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Out of 30 registered parties, 13 have confirmed candidates for the Presidency of the Republic. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Roberto Cidade will not participate in debates before the official campaign start on August 16. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Vanderlei Luxemburgo is running for the Senate in Tocantins for Podemos. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Marcelinho Carioca is running for district deputy in the Federal District for Republicanos. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-10: Football figures announce candidacies for 2026 Brazilian elections Several former Brazilian football players and coaches, including Edmundo, Luís Fabiano, and Vanderlei Luxemburgo, have announced candidacies for various offices in the 2026 elections. 36 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vivian-mendes-registers-candidacy-for-so-paulo-governorship ### 2026-08-07: Brazil 2026 elections enter active phase with debates and registration deadlines Brazil's 2026 election cycle enters a critical phase with regional debates in several states and the approaching August 15 deadline for candidate registrations and the August 16 start of official campaigning. 115 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/psd-announces-2026-candidate-slate-in-gois ### 2026-08-05: Rio de Janeiro Announces 2026 State Deputy Candidates Rio de Janeiro released its full candidate list for the 2026 state deputy elections, detailing dozens of names across parties. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rio-de-janeiro-announces-2026-state-deputy-candidates ### 2026-07-23: Brazilian parties convene to nominate candidates for 2026 elections Brazilian parties held conventions, confirming governors, senators and deputies for the 2026 elections, including PL’s Douglas Ruas, Republicanos’ Anthony Garotinho, and PT’s Cadu de Lula. 81 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/acre-election-technical-government-pledge-and-alliance-talks --- Cite as: Brazil 2026 election candidate selection and campaigning. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-2026-election-candidate-selection