2026 Goiás gubernatorial election

2026 Goiás gubernatorial election
4 October 2026 (2026-10-04) (first round)
Opinion polls
Incumbent Governor

Ronaldo Caiado
UNIÃO



Senatorial election
4 October 2026 (2026-10-04) (one-only round)
Opinion polls
Incumbent Senator

Vanderlan Cardoso and Jorge Kajuru
PSD and PSB



The 2026 Goiás gubernatorial election will be held in the state of Goiás, 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 is held on 25 October.

Incumbent governor Ronaldo Caiado of the Brazil Union (União), reelected in 2022 with 51.81% of the vote in the first round, is term-limited and ineligible to run for a third consecutive term. Incumbent senators Jorge Kajuru of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and Vanderlan Cardoso of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) 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 Ronaldo Caiado of the Brazil Union (União) was reelected in the first round of the 2022 election with 51.81% of the vote, defeating former Aparecida de Goiânia mayor Gustavo Mendanha of the now defunct Patriota (PATRI) and Major Vitor Hugo of the Liberal Party (PL). Caiado, a physician and ruralist leader, secured his second term by maintaining a strong approval rating and consolidating a broad right-wing alliance. Because he is serving his second consecutive term, he is constitutionally barred from seeking a third period in executive office in 2026.[1][2]

Caiado governs alongside Vice Governor Daniel Vilela of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB). The son of former governor Maguito Vilela, Daniel was elected on the 2022 ticket as part of a strategic reconciliation between Caiado and the MDB, formerly rival groups in the state. He is widely positioned as the natural successor to the governorship, with Caiado expected to step down in April 2026 to pursue a potential national bid, allowing Vilela to run for reelection as the incumbent.[3][4]

Senator

Senators in Brazil serve an 8-year term, meaning the incumbents were elected on tickets in 2018.

Jorge Kajuru, a sports journalist and former city councilor, was elected to the Senate in 2018 as a member of the now-defunct Progressive Republican Party (PRP). Known for his controversial style and focus on transparency, he joined the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) in 2023 after a period of alignment with the federal government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He currently serves as the government's vice-leader in the Senate and is eligible to run for a second term.[5][6]

Vanderlan Cardoso, a businessman in the food industry and former mayor of Senador Canedo, holds the second Senate seat. He was elected in 2018 via the Progressives (PP), receiving the highest vote count in that cycle (31.42%). After switching to the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in 2020, he has maintained an independent stance, often oscillating between support for the federal administration and conservative agendas. He is eligible to run for reelection in 2026.[6][7]

Gubernatorial candidates

Declared candidates

  • Daniel Vilela, lawyer, current vice-governor of Goiás (since 2023), former federal deputy (2015–2019), former state deputy (2011–2015), and candidate for Governor of Goiás in 2018.[8]
  • Marconi Perillo, industrialist, former national president of the PSDB (2023–2025), former governor of Goiás (1999–2006; 2011–2018), former senator (2007–2010), and candidate for Senate in 2018 and 2022.[9]
  • Wilder Morais, entrepreneur, current senator (since 2023), former Secretary of Industry and Commerce of Goiás (2019–2020), and former senator (2012–2019).[10]
  • Incumbent Vice Governor
    Daniel Vilela
    of the MDB
    (2023–present)
  • Former Governor
    Marconi Perillo
    of the PSDB
    (1999–2006, 2011–2018)
  • Incumbent Senator
    Wilder Morais
    of PL
    (2023-present)

Expressed interest

As of December 2026, the following individuals have expressed an interest in running in the last six months:

  • Adriana Accorsi, police delegate, current federal deputy (since 2023), former state deputy (2015–2023), and candidate for Mayor of Goiânia in 2016, 2020, and 2024.[11]

Speculated by media

As of December 2026, the following individuals have appeared in polls and been suggested by media:

  • Vanderlan Cardoso, businessman, current senator (since 2019), former mayor of Senador Canedo (2005–2010), candidate for Governor of Goiás in 2010 and 2014, and candidate for Mayor of Goiânia in 2016, 2020, and 2024.[12]

Declined to be candidates

  • Gustavo Mendanha, gym teacher, former mayor of Aparecida de Goiânia (2017–2022), former City Councilor of Aparecida de Goiânia (2009–2016), and candidate for Governor of Goiás in 2022.[13]

Senatorial candidates

Declared candidates

Possible candidates

Declined

Opinion polls

Governor

2025

Polling firm Fieldwork

date

Sample

size

Vilela

MDB

Perillo

PSDB

Morais

PL

Accorsi

PT

Madureira

PT

Brandão

NOVO

Vanderlan

PSD

Others Blank/Null/

Undec.

Lead
IGAPE[14] Dec 20–26, 2025 1,200 33.4 21.7 11.8 N/a 8.5 1.3 N/a
Exata.GO[15] 28.7 33.05 8.4 N/a N/a N/a N/a
Real Time Big Data[16] Dec 3–4, 2025 1,200 30 26 14 12 N/a 1 N/a
Paraná Pesquisas[17] Dec 2–5, 2025 1,510 39.3 24.4 9.2 12.9 N/a 1.1 N/a
Futura Inteligência[18] Oct 3–7, 2025 800 36.9 28.6 5.8 N/a N/a 0.4 8
35.7 29.4 8.3 8.2 N/a N/a N/a
AtlasIntel[19] Sep 17–23, 2025 2,872 42.3 15.6 16.5 15.4 N/a 0.3 N/a 6
Genial/Quaest[20] Aug 13–17, 2025 1,104 26 22 10 8 N/a 1 N/a
IGAPE[21] Aug 23–28, 2025 1,500 31.1 20.8 8.9 7.5 N/a N/a N/a

Notes

References

  1. ^ "Caiado é reeleito governador de GO no primeiro turno - Eleições 2022". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-10-02. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  2. ^ "Goiás reelege Ronaldo Caiado (União) para o governo do estado em 1° turno". Justiça Eleitoral (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  3. ^ Marques, Eduardo (2023-01-01). "Agora vice-governador, Daniel Vilela deve fazer MDB forte para 2026". Jornal Opção (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  4. ^ Bezerra, Raphael (2025-11-08). "Daniel Vilela tem posição confortável para sucessão de Caiado". Jornal Opção (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  5. ^ CartaCapital, Wendal Carmo Repórter do site de (2023-01-24). "Kajuru volta ao PSB e será o líder do partido no Senado". CartaCapital (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  6. ^ a b "Eleições: Vanderlan e Kajuru são eleitos senadores por Goiás". Agência Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  7. ^ Kamenach, Júnior (2024-08-06). "Com presença de Kassab, Vanderlan confirma candidatura a prefeito de Goiânia em convenção". Jornal Opção (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  8. ^ "Quaest GO 2026: Vilela lidera, Marconi em 2º, e Wilder em 3º". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  9. ^ SBT News (2025-11-27). Marconi Perillo deixa PSDB e Aécio Neves assume presidência da sigla | #SBTBrasil. Retrieved 2026-01-02 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Carvalho, Leoncio (2025-11-17). "Goiás rumo à Direita: PL Define Wilder governador e Gayer senador para 2026". PL 22. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  11. ^ "Delegada Adriana Accorsi, do PT, aparece em 2º lugar na disputa pelo governo de Goiás, diz pesquisa". Revista Fórum (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  12. ^ "Pesquisa aponta Vanderlan e Gracinha Caiado como favoritos na disputa pelas duas vagas ao Senado Federal, em 2026". www.vanderlan.com.br. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  13. ^ Redação (2025-11-09). "O fator que pode fazer Gustavo Mendanha desistir de disputar as eleições em 2026". Jornal Opção (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  14. ^ "IGAPE confirma: Apoio de Caiado vira peça-chave das eleições de 2026 - Conexão Record" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-12-29. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  15. ^ www.internetmedia.com.br. "Nova pesquisa mostra Marconi Perillo como líder na eleição para o Governo de Goiás". notícias (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  16. ^ "Real Time Big Data: Vilela e Perillo lideram corrida ao governo de GO". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-12-05. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  17. ^ "Eleições 2026: Goiás tem primeira pesquisa registrada no TSE". domingosketelbey.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  18. ^ "Daniel Vilela lidera disputa ao Governo de Goiás em todos os cenários, aponta Futura - via @podergoias". Poder Goiás (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  19. ^ "Daniel Vilela lidera cenários para governo de Goiás, diz Atlas". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  20. ^ "Quaest: Vilela tem 26% de intenções de voto em GO; Perillo, 22%". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
  21. ^ "IGAPE: Daniel Vilela lidera disputa pelo governo de Goiás, com 31% | Gazeta do Estado". GazetadoEstado (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-01-13.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.