Roberto Rocha Maranhão candidacy dispute

In July 2026 former senator Roberto Rocha filed a lawsuit in São Luís seeking a court order to retroactively recognize his affiliation with the Partido Renovador Trabalhista Brasileiro (PRTB) after a technical delay prevented his registration before the 4 April deadline. He announced on social media that he would run in the 2026 Maranhão elections, though he had previously indicated a retirement from politics.

By early August, Rocha claimed the centre‑right Novo Party had been "bought" and that it withdrew his pre‑nomination without notice, steering him toward a gubernatorial bid instead of a Senate run. He accused the party of repeatedly interfering with his attempts to join a political organization. Novo subsequently endorsed other candidates for the governorship and Senate, while Rocha confirmed he would contest the state’s top executive post as a PRTB candidate.