2024 Porto Alegre mayoral election

The 2024 Porto Alegre mayoral election took place on 6 October 2024. Voters elected a mayor, a vice mayor, and 36 councillors. The incumbent mayor, Sebastião Melo, a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), was elected in 2020^[1] for his first term and ran for reelection.^[2]

Quick facts Turnout, Candidate ...

2024 Porto Alegre municipal election

← 2020

6 October 2024 (2024-10-06) (first round)
27 October 2024 (2024-10-27) (second round)

2028 →

Turnout

68.49% (first round)
65.17% (second round)

Mayoral election

Opinion polls


Candidate	Sebastião Melo	Maria do Rosário
Party	MDB	PT
Alliance	We're Together, Porto Alegre	The People in the Prefecture Again
Running mate	Betina Worm	Tamyres Filgueira
Popular vote	406,467	254,128
Percentage	61.53%	38.47%

Mayor before election

Sebastião Melo
MDB

Elected mayor

Sebastião Melo
MDB

Parliamentary election

Party		Leader	Current seats
Municipal Chamber
	FE Brasil	N/a	6
	MDB	Pablo Melo	4
	PSOL	Karen Santos	4
	PSDB-Cidadania	N/a	4
	Republicanos	Alvoni Medina	3
	PL	Fernanda Barth	3
	PDT	Márcio Bins Ely	2
	PODE	Giovane Byl	2
	PP	Mônica Leal	2
	NOVO	Tiago Albrecht	2
	PSB	Airto Ferronato	1
	PSD	Cláudia Araújo	1
	Solidarity	Claudio Janta	1
	UNIÃO	Cláudio Conceição	1

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The mayor's term will begin on 1 January 2025 and end on 31 December 2028.^[3]

Background

2020 election

The last mayoral election in Porto Alegre, held in 2020, resulted in the victory of the lawyer and politician Sebastião Melo in the second round. Melo obtained 370,550 votes (54.63% of the valid votes) against the 307,745 votes (45,37% of the valid votes) obtained by his opponent, Manuela d'Ávila (PCdoB).^[1]

Approval ratings and 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods

In a poll conducted in the end of March 2024, Melo's government was approved by 58% of the citizens of Porto Alegre, making him the front-runner in most of the election scenarios.^[4] However, after the 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods that happened in the end of April to May, that also affected the city of Porto Alegre, his lead in polls may be contested. One of the main themes of the 2024 elections will be the reconstruction of the city that is still flooded. The city's protection against floods are responsibility of the mayor of Porto Alegre and during the electoral campaign, his opponents may question his leadership and decisions that've been taken by his government during the floods.^[5]

Possible postponement

There was a debate among national political forces about a possible postponement of the elections due to the floods in the state. However, the president of the Superior Electoral Court, Alexandre de Moraes, confirmed on 21 May 2024 that there is no discussions about a postponement. He states that there was no structural damage to the Regional Electoral Court of Rio Grande do Sul and to the electoral courts that would prevent the election from being held in the month of October throughout the state and in the city of Porto Alegre.^[6]

Electoral calendar

Electoral calendar announced by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) on 3 January 2024^[7]
7 March – 5 April	Period of the 'party window' for councillors. During this period, the councillors are able to move to other political parties in order to run for election while not losing their respective political terms.
6 April	Deadline for all parties and party federations to obtain the registration of their statutes at the Superior Electoral Court and for all candidates to have their electoral domicile in the constituency in which they wish to contest the elections with the affiliation granted by the party.
15 May	Start of the preliminary fundraising campaign in the form of collective financing for potential candidates. During this period, candidates are not allowed to ask for votes and are still subjected to obey the rules regarding electoral propaganda on the Internet.
20 July – 5 August	On this date, party conventions begin to deliberate on coalitions and choose candidates for mayors and councillors tickets. Parties have until 15 August to register their names with the Brazilian Election Justice.
16 August	Beginning of electoral campaigns on an equal basis, with any advertising or demonstration explicitly requesting for votes before the date being considered irregular and subject to fines.
30 August –3 October	Broadcasting of free electoral propaganda on radio and television.
6 October	Date of mayoral elections.
27 October	Date of a possible second round in cities with more than 200,000 voters in which the most voted candidate for mayor has not reached 50% of the valid votes.

Candidates

Presumptive candidates

More information Party, Mayoral candidate ...

				Coalition
Democratic Labour Party (PDT 12)	Juliana Brizola State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (2011–2023) Councillor of Porto Alegre (2009–2011)	Brazil Union (UNIÃO)	Thiago Duarte State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (2019–present) Councillor of Porto Alegre (2008; 2011–2018)	United for Porto Alegre Democratic Labour Party (PDT)^[8] Brazil Union (UNIÃO) Always Forward Federation (PSDB, Cidadania)
Workers' Party (PT 13)	Maria do Rosário Federal Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (2003–present) Minister of Human Rights (2011–2014) State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (1999–2003) Councillor of Porto Alegre (1993–1999)	Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL)	Tamyres Filgueira Black Movement Activist Civil Servant	The People at City Hall Again Brazil of Hope (PT, PCdoB, PV) PSOL REDE Federation (PSOL, REDE)^[9] Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) Avante
Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB 15)	Sebastião Melo Mayor of Porto Alegre (2021–present) State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (2019–2021) Vice Mayor of Porto Alegre (2013–2017) Councillor of Porto Alegre (2001–2013)	Liberal Party (PL)	Betina Worm Lieutenant colonel of the Brazilian Army	We Are Together, Porto Alegre Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB)^[2] Liberal Party (PL)^[10]^[11] Progressistas (PP)^[12] Democratic Renewal Party (PRD)^[12] Podemos (PODE)^[12]^[13] Republicans^[12] Social Democratic Party (PSD)^[12] Solidarity^[14]
United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU 16)	Fabiana Sanguiné Medical Nursing Assistant Trade Union Organizer	United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU)	Régis Ethur Teacher	United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU)^[15]
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB 28)	Carlos Rosa Alan de Castro Businessman	Christian Democracy (DC)	João Alberto Morsch Civil Engineer and Businessman	Renew Porto Alegre Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB) Christian Democracy (DC)
New Party (NOVO 30)	Felipe Camozzato State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (2023–present) Councillor of Porto Alegre (2017–2023)	New Party (NOVO)	Raqueli Baumbach Businesswoman Vice-president of the Sindha (Accommodation and Food Union of Porto Alegre Metropolis)	New Party (NOVO)^[16]
Popular Unity (UP 80)	Luciano Schafer National Coordinator of the Neighborhood Struggle Movement (NSM)	Popular Unity (UP)	Amanda Benedett University Student	Popular Unity (UP)^[17]

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Potential candidates

Cidadania

Any Ortiz – Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Rio Grande do Sul (2023–present); Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul (2015–2023) and Councillor of Porto Alegre (2013–2014).^[18]

Federal Deputy
Any Ortiz (Cidadania)
from Canoas

Withdrawn candidates

Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL)

Luciana Genro – Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul (1995–2003; 2019–present) and member of the Chamber of Deputies from Rio Grande do Sul (2003–2011); she withdrew her candidacy on 2 March 2024 and will support Maria do Rosário's candidacy along with the party and the PSOL REDE Federation.^[9]

Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB)

Nadine Anflor – Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul (2023–present).^[19]

Liberal Party (PL)

Comandante Nádia – Councillor of Porto Alegre (2017–present).^[18]
Luciano Zucco – Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Rio Grande do Sul (2023–present) and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul (2019–2023).^[20]

Both Nádia and Zucco's candidacies were automatically withdrawn by the Liberal Party of Porto Alegre when the party nominated Betina Worm as the running mate of Sebastião Melo.^[10]^[11]

State Deputy
Luciana Genro (PSOL)
from Santa Maria
Councillor
Comandante Nádia (PL)
from Porto Alegre
Federal Deputy
Luciano Zucco (PL)
from Alegrete

Outgoing Municipal Chamber

The result of the last municipal election and the current situation in the Municipal Chamber is given below:

More information Affiliation, Members ...

Affiliation		Members		+/–
Affiliation		Elected^[21]	Current^[22]^[a]	+/–
	MDB	3	4	1
	PT	4	4
	PSOL	4	4
	PL	1	3	2
	Republicanos	2	3	1
	PSDB	4	3	1
	PODE	0	2	2
	PCdoB	2	2
	PDT	2	2
	PP	2	2
	NOVO	2	2
	UNIÃO	didn't exist	1	1
	PSB	1	1
	Cidadania	1	1
	PSD	1	1
	Solidarity	1	1
	PRTB	1	0	1
	PSL	1	extinct party^[b]	1
	DEM	1	extinct party^[c]	1
	PTB	3	extinct party^[d]	3
Total		36

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Opinion polls

First round

2024

More information 17 July, The Liberal Party (PL) nominates Betina Worm as the running mate of Sebastião Melo (MDB). ...

17 July			The Liberal Party (PL) nominates Betina Worm as the running mate of Sebastião Melo (MDB).^[10]^[11]
Pollster/client(s)	Date(s) conducted	Sample size	Melo MDB	Rosário PT	Ortiz Cidadania	Nádia PL	J. Brizola PDT	Camozzato NOVO	Duarte UNIÃO	Sanguiné PSTU	Others	Abst. Undec.	Lead
Pollster/client(s)	Date(s) conducted	Sample size									Others	Abst. Undec.	Lead
Futura Inteligência	17–21 June	800	28%	29.2%	5.8%	N/a	10%	2.9%	5.1%	N/a	3.1%^[e]	15.7%	1.2%
			27.2%	29.6%	8.9%	N/a	N/a	4.2%	6.5%	N/a	5.9%^[f]	17.7%	2.4%
			25.3%	28.1%	N/a	9.6%	10.1%	N/a	7.9%	N/a	4%^[g]	15%	2.8%
Veritá	12–16 June	1,002	25.3%	15.4%	3.8%	N/a	4%	N/a	1.4%	N/a	30.6%^[h]	19.5%	6.2%
Atlas/CNN	9–14 June	1,798	24.8%	30.2%	9.1%	8.5%	8.2%	6.7%	1.3%	1.3%	N/a	9.9%	5.4%
Atlas/CNN	9–14 June	1,798	28.3%	31.8%	N/a	N/a	11.7%	9.1%	1.9%	1.5%	N/a	15.7%	3.5%
29 April			A severe flood hits the state of Rio Grande do Sul and the city of Porto Alegre, resulting in the worst environmental disaster in the city's history.^[26]
1 April			Nadine Anflor announces the withdrawal of her potential candidacy for mayor of Porto Alegre.^[19]
Pollster/client(s)	Date(s) conducted	Sample size	Melo MDB	Rosário PT	Ortiz Cidadania	Nádia PL	J. Brizola PDT	Camozzato NOVO	Duarte UNIÃO	Nadine PSDB	Others	Abst. Undec.	Lead
Pollster/client(s)	Date(s) conducted	Sample size									Others	Abst. Undec.	Lead
RealTime Big Data^[4]	29–30 March	1,000	40%	22%	5%	4%	5%	N/a	2%	2%	7%^[i]	15%	18%
			41%	22%	N/a	5%	6%	N/a	2%	2%	7%^[j]	15%	19%
			41%	26%	6%	N/a	N/a	N/a	2%	N/a	7%^[k]	18%	15%
			42%	26%	N/a	N/a	8%	N/a	3%	3%	N/a	18%	16%
2–22 March			Luciana Genro withdraws her potential candidacy and decides to support Maria do Rosário (PT).^[9] Felipe Camozzato is announced as a potential candidate by the New Party (NOVO).^[16] Comandante Nádia leaves Progressistas (PP) in order to join the Liberal Party (PL).^[27]

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2023