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Brazilian-born candidates in US elections

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2026-11-05 12:19 UTC → 2026-11-06 04:08 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Brazilian-born individuals are participating in United States legislative elections as members of the Democratic Party. In Massachusetts, Priscila Sousa is seeking reelection to the House of Representatives for the 6th Middlesex district, with her advocacy including healthcare access and increased investment in public schools. Another Brazilian candidate, Rita Mendes, is also seeking office in Massachusetts. During the midterm elections, seven Brazilian-born individuals running as Democrats were elected to state legislatures across four states. In Massachusetts, Priscila Sousa, Rita Mendes, and Danillo Sena were re-elected, alongside newcomer Lorena Betts. Betts, who arrived in the US as an au pair, focused her campaign on community engagement and practical issues such as housing and healthcare. In Connecticut, Farley Santos successfully secured re-election. In Nevada, Elaine Marzola also won her seat. In Florida, Felipe Sousa Lazaballet has been elected to the Florida House of Representatives for District 42 in the Orlando area. A former undocumented immigrant and immigrant rights activist, Lazaballet secured 62.41% of the vote, defeating Republican candidate Bonnie Jackson. He is the first Brazilian-born individual to hold a seat in the Florida Legislature and the first openly gay immigrant elected to the state legislature. Having arrived in the United States at age 14, Lazaballet lived without legal status for approximately 15 years before obtaining work authorization through the DACA program and becoming a U.S. citizen in 2021. His platform focuses on the rising cost of living, affordable housing, public school funding, and healthcare access. He has described his journey from an undocumented immigrant to an elected official as the “American dream.” Elected officials have highlighted their diverse origins, including Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, and Mato Grosso. Re-elected representative Rita Mendes has called for federal legislative reform, stating that the current US immigration system is broken.

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