2026 Pará general election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 Pará general election will be held in the state of Pará, Brazil, on Sunday 4 October 2026. Voters will elect a governor, vice governor, two senators, 17 representatives for the Chamber of Deputies, and 41 Legislative Assembly members. If no candidate for president or governor receives a majority of the valid votes in the first round, a runoff election will be held on 25 October.
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Gubernatorial election | |||
4 October 2026 (first round)
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Senatorial election | |||
4 October 2026 (one-only round)
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Incumbent governor Helder Barbalho of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), reelected in 2022 with 70.41% of the vote in the first round, is term-limited and ineligible to run for a third consecutive term. Incumbent senators Jader Barbalho of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) and Zequinha Marinho of Podemos (PODE) are completing their eight-year terms and are eligible to run for reelection.
Background
Electoral calendar
Note: This section only presents the main dates of the 2026 electoral calendar, check the TSE official website (in Portuguese) and other official sources for detailed information.
| Electoral calendar | |
|---|---|
| 15 May | Start of crowdfunding of candidates |
| 20 July to 5 August | Party conventions for choosing candidates and coalitions |
| 16 August to 1 October | Period of exhibition of free electoral propaganda on radio, television and on the internet related to the first round |
| 4 October | First round of 2026 elections |
| 9 October to 23 October | Period of exhibition of free electoral propaganda on radio, television and on the internet related to a possible second round |
| 25 October | Possible second round of 2026 elections |
| until 19 December | Delivery of electoral diplomas for those who were elected in the 2026 elections by the Brazilian Election Justice |
Governor
Incumbent governor Helder Barbalho of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) was reelected in the first round of the 2022 election with 70.41% of the vote, the highest percentage among all elected governors in the country that cycle. He defeated Senator Zequinha Marinho of then of the Liberal Party (PL). Barbalho, who hails from the state's most prominent political dynasty, secured his second term by building a massive coalition that included support from both the left (PT) and center-right parties. Because he is serving his second consecutive term, he is constitutionally barred from seeking a third period in executive office in 2026.[1]
Barbalho governs alongside Vice Governor Hana Ghassan of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB). A career civil servant and former Secretary of Planning, Ghassan was elected on the 2022 ticket as Barbalho's chosen successor. She is widely positioned to take over the governorship in April 2026, when Barbalho is expected to resign to run for the Senate, allowing her to run for reelection as the incumbent with the full backing of the state machine.[2]
Senator
Senators in Brazil serve an 8-year term, meaning the incumbents were elected on tickets in 2018.
Jader Barbalho, a historic figure in Brazilian politics and father of the current governor, was elected to the Senate in 2018 as a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB). A former Senate President and Governor, he remains a key articulator in Brasília. While he is eligible for reelection, recent political negotiations suggest the MDB may field Governor Helder Barbalho and State Assembly President Chicão for the two Senate slots, signaling a potential generational transition within the clan.[3]
Zequinha Marinho, an evangelical leader and former vice governor, holds the second Senate seat. He was elected in 2018 via the Social Christian Party (PSC). After running for governor against Helder Barbalho in 2022 under the Liberal Party (PL) banner, he left the party in 2023 following internal disputes and affiliated with Podemos (PODE) to lead the opposition in the state. He is eligible to run for a second term in the Senate.[4]
Gubernatorial candidates
Declared candidates
| Governor | Previous office | Vice Governor | Previous office | Coalition | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party Federation |
Candidate | Party Federation |
Candidate | ||||||
| MDB | Hana Ghassan | Governor of Pará (2026) |
TBD | TBD | N/a | (MDB, FE Brasil (PT, PCdoB, and PV), PSD, Fed. UPB (PP and UNIÃO), Republicanos, Fed. PSDB/CID (PSDB and Cidadania), Fed. Solidarity Renewal (PRD and SD), and PDT) | [5] | ||
| PSTU | Cleber Rabelo | City Councillor of Belém (2013–2017) |
PSTU | Well Macêdo | No previous office | N/a | [6] | ||
| PODE | Dr. Daniel | Mayor of Ananindeua (2021–2026) |
TBD | TBD | N/a | (PODE, PL, AVANTE, and MOBILIZA) | [7] | ||
| DC | Mário Couto | Senator for Pará (2007–2015) |
DC | TBD | N/a | N/a | [8] | ||
| PSOL Fed. PSOL REDE |
Professora Araceli Lemos | State Deputy for Pará (1999–2007) |
TBD | TBD | N/a | (Fed. PSOL REDE (PSOL and REDE)) | [9] | ||
| UP | Raquel Brício | No previous office | UP | TBD | N/a | N/a | |||
- Hana Ghassan, civil servant, current vice-governor of Pará (since 2023), former Secretary of Planning and Administration of Pará (2019–2022), and former Secretary of Finance of Belém (2005–2012).[10]
- Dr. Daniel Santos, physician, current mayor of Ananindeua (since 2021), former president of the Legislative Assembly of Pará (2019–2021), former state deputy (2019–2021), and former City Councilor of Ananindeua (2013–2019).[11]
- Éder Mauro, civil police delegate, current federal deputy (since 2015), former Civil Police Delegate of Pará (1984–2014), candidate for Mayor of Belém in 2016 and 2024, and candidate for Federal Deputy in 2014, 2018, and 2022.[12]
Expressed interest
As of December 2026, the following individuals have expressed an interest in running in the last six months:
- Zequinha Marinho, pastor and accountant, current senator for Pará (since 2019), former vice-governor of Pará (2015–2019), former federal deputy (2003–2014), former state deputy (1997–2003), and candidate for Governor of Pará in 2022.
- Rogério Barra, lawyer, current state deputy (since 2023), and former secretary of justice and human rights of Pará (2019–2021).
Speculated by media
As of December 2026, the following individuals have appeared in polls and been suggested by media:
- Paulo Rocha, union leader, former senator for Pará (2015–2023), former federal deputy (1991–2005), candidate for Governor of Pará in 2002, and candidate for senator in 2006.
- Dirceu Ten Caten, lawyer and current state deputy (since 2015).[13]