Brazil Tocantins governor race intensifies

The Tocantins gubernatorial contest continued to tighten through late July. Pre‑candidates kept touring the state, with Alfredo Junior promoting industrialisation and tourism while Júnior Viana appeared at local festivals. Deputy Vicentinho Júnior expanded his coalition, gaining endorsements from mayors, former mayors and dozens of municipal councilors in interior towns such as Rio da Conceição, Taguatinga and Tabocão, and maintained a ground‑level tour through the Bico do Papagaio region.

On 23 July, a dispute erupted after Dorinha Seabra named Taguatinga Mayor Paulo Roberto as campaign coordinator. Local leaders criticised the move, and former senator Vicente Alves issued a sharp rebuke. In response, vice‑governor hopeful Amélio Cayres launched the Dorinha‑Vicentinho ticket in Taguatinga, emphasizing humility, dialogue and a platform that includes a new regional hospital, expanded university courses and heightened police presence.

Polling by Paraná Pesquisas showed Vicentinho Júnior (PSDB) narrowing the gap with Dorinha Seabra (União Brasil) for the governor’s race, while Eduardo Gomes (PL) led the Senate poll with about 31 % and Alexandre Guimarães (MDB) trailed. Party insiders said the surge reflected growing grassroots support ahead of upcoming party conventions.

Later, Vicentinho Júnior and running‑mate Amélio Cayres embarked on a ten‑municipality pre‑campaign tour of the Bico do Papagaio area, visiting Sampaio, Carrasco Bonito, São Sebastião, Esperantina, Buriti do Tocantins, Maurilândia, Itaguatins, Sítio Novo, Axixá and São Miguel do Tocantins. He pledged R$ 990 mil for local projects—half for health facilities, half for road paving—promised expanded rural electricity, and advocated using the Tocantins River for regional transport, while reiterating commitments to professional qualification, first‑job creation and entrepreneurship support.