Brazilian legislative and 2026 electoral political shifts

Brazil is experiencing various political shifts involving legislative appointments and changing electoral alliances as candidates finalize tickets for the 2026 elections. At the legislative level, several substitutions have taken place. In the Federal Senate, Sargento Reginauro (PSDB-CE) was sworn in for Ceará to replace Eduardo Girão during a four-month leave. In São Paulo, Frederico D’Ávila replaced Marcos Alcântara Machado on Ricardo Salles’s Senate ticket. Municipal changes were also noted in Salvador, where Carlos Kleber Almeida (PSD) took office as a city councilor, and in Araras, where Douglas Marcucci assumed a temporary seat. Political alliances are shifting across several states. In Pernambuco, Marília Arraes (PDT) lost the support of Álvaro Porto (MDB) and Gabriel Porto (PSB). Meanwhile, Governor Raquel Lyra has submitted her government plan to the TSE, as the state's Senate race is expected to be highly polarized between candidates such as Humberto Costa and Mendonça Filho. In Alagoas, former Maceió mayor João Henrique Caldas (JHC) announced his run for governor with Célia Rocha as his vice-candidate, featuring Arthur Lira and Marina Candia on his Senate ticket. In Paraíba, PDT national president Carlos Lupi confirmed support for Cícero Lucena and Veneziano, stating the party felt “muito desprestigiado” (very unrespected) after being passed over for the vice-governorship in the current administration's reelection bid. Other regional developments include Lorenzo Pazolini announcing Eliane Leal as his vice-gubernatorial candidate in Espírito Santo, Zelinho being named a Senate substitute for Alexandre Kalil’s ticket in Minas Gerais, and Duarte Júnior announcing support for Hilton Gonçalo’s Senate bid in Maranhão. In the Distrito Federal, Federal Deputy Rafael Prudente (MDB) endorsed Sebastião Coelho (Novo), deviating from the formal MDB alliance supporting Celina Leão (PP). In the Distrito Federal, Celina Leão has officially launched her 2026 reelection campaign.