The 2022 Rio Grande do Sul state election took place in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on 2 October 2022. Voters elected a Governor, Vice Governor, one Senator, 31 representatives for the Chamber of Deputies and 55 Legislative Assembly members, with a possible second round to be held on 30 October 2022. Former governor Eduardo Leite, was eligible for a second term and announced that he's running for reelection.

The 2022 electoral process was marked by the succession to the position held by the incumbent governor, Ranolfo Vieira Júnior, from the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), the running mate of Leite in 2018 Rio Grande do Sul gubernatorial election. He took office on 31 March 2022 with Leite's resignation. For the election to the Federal Senate, the seat occupied by Lasier Martins (PODE), who was elected in 2014 by the Democratic Labour Party (PDT), was at dispute.

Electoral calendar

+Electoral calendar15 May Start of crowdfunding of candidates20 July to 5 August Party conventions for choosing candidates and coalitions16 August to 30 September Period of exhibition of free electoral propaganda on radio, television and on the internet related to the first round2 October First round of 2022 elections7 October to 28 October Period of exhibition of free electoral propaganda on radio, television and on the internet related to a possible second round30 October Possible second round of 2022 electionsuntil 19 December Delivery of electoral diplomas for those who were elected in the 2022 elections by the Brazilian Election Justice

Gubernatorial candidates The party conventions began on 20 July and continued until 5 August. The following political parties have already confirmed their candidacies. Political parties had until 15 August 2022 to formally register their candidates.

Candidates in runoff Party Candidate Most relevant political office or occupationPartyRunning mateCoalitionElectoral numberTV time per party/coalition Refs. Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) Eduardo LeiteGovernor of Rio Grande do Sul(2019–2022) Brazilian Democratic Movement Gabriel SouzaOne Only Rio Grande Always Forward (PSDB and Cidadania) Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) Brazil Union (UNIÃO) Social Democratic Party (PSD) Podemos (PODE)45 Liberal Party (PL) Onyx Lorenzoni Ministry of Labour and Social Security(2021–2022) Liberal Party (PL) Cláudia JardimTo Defend and Transform Rio Grande Liberal Party (PL) Republicanos Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) Patriota22

Candidates failing to make runoff PartyCandidateMost relevant political office or occupationPartyRunning mateCoalitionElectoral numberRef. Workers' Party (PT) Edegar Pretto State Deputy for Rio Grande do Sul(2011 – present) Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL)Pedro RuasHope Front Brazil of Hope (PT, PCdoB and PV) PSOL REDE Federation (PSOL and REDE) 13Progressistas (PP)Luis Carlos HeinzeSenator for Rio Grande do Sul(2019 – present)Brazilian Labour Party (PTB)Tanise SabinoWork and Progress Progressistas (PP) Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB)11Democratic Labour Party (PDT)Vieira da CunhaSecretary of Education of the State of Rio Grande do Sul(2015–2016)Democratic Labour Party (PDT) Regina CostaPDT Avante Democratic Labour Party (PDT) Avante12 Social Christian Party (PSC) Roberto ArgentaFederal Deputy from Rio Grande do Sul(1999–2003)Solidariedade Nivea RosaChristian Humanist Front Social Christian Party (PSC) Solidariedade Agir20 Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) Carlos MessalaPublic servant. Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) Edson CanabarroTBA21 New Party (NOVO) Ricardo JobimLawyer and entrepreneur. New Party (NOVO) Rafael DreschNone.30 United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU) Rejane OliveiraNo prior public office United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU) Vera RosaneNone16

Withdrawn candidates

Ranolfo Vieira Júnior (PSDB) - Former Vice Governor of Rio Grande do Sul 2019–2022 and Governor of Rio Grande do Sul (2022– present). With the return of Eduardo Leite in the race for the government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Ranolfo gives up on his candidacy for the state government in an agreement with the former governor.

Alceu Moreira (MDB) - Federal Deputy from Rio Grande do Sul (2011 – present) and State president of Brazilian Democratic Movement in Rio Grande do Sul. He announced on March 23, 2022, that he was giving up on his candidacy. In an open letter, Moreira makes indirect but clear criticisms of party colleague Gabriel Souza and the former governor Eduardo Leite (PSDB). The federal deputy's anger comes from an alleged interference by the governor, which would have influenced Souza's decision to run for the MDB's internal primaries. Gabriel Souza (MDB) - State Deputy for Rio Grande do Sul (2015 – present) withdrew his candidacy to run as the vice-governor in Eduardo Leite's coalition, after beating Moreira in the party primaries.

Romildo Bolzan Júnior (PDT) - Mayor of Osório, Rio Grande do Sul for two periods: 1993–1997 and 2005–2013. President of Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense since 2015. Bolzan confirmed on 12 May 2022 that he will remain in charge of the club until the end of the year, when his term ends. That said, he officially withdrew from being a candidate for the state government. He says he will fulfill the mission he has with the football team and that's the reason why he could not accept the invitation of the Democratic Labour Party (PDT). Beto Albuquerque (PSB) - State deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (1991–1999) and Federal deputy from Rio Grande do Sul (1999–2015). Albuquerque announced on the afternoon of July 28, 2022, during a meeting of the Brazilian Socialist Party national executive in Brasília, that he wouldn't be a candidate for the government of Rio Grande do Sul. He stated, however, that he won't support a Workers' Party candidacy. Pedro Ruas (PSOL) - State deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (2015–2019) and councillor of Porto Alegre (1993–2015, 2021 – present). He announced his withdrawal on July 29 to run as the running mate on Edegar Pretto's ticket.

Senatorial candidates The party conventions began on July 20 and will continue until August 5. The following political parties have already confirmed their candidacies. Political parties have until August 15, 2022, to formally register their candidates.

Confirmed candidates PartyCandidateMost relevant political office or occupationPartyCandidates for Alternate SenatorsCoalitionElectoral number Ref.Workers' Party (PT)Olívio DutraGovernor of Rio Grande do Sul(1999–2003) Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL)1st alternate senator:Roberto Robaina Brazil of Hope (PT, PCdoB and PV) PSOL REDE Federation (PSOL and REDE)TBATBATBA RepublicansHamilton Mourão Vice President of Brazil(2019 – present)TBATBATo defend and transform Rio Grande Liberal Party (PL) Republicans Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) Patriota100 Progressistas (PP) Comandante NádiaCouncillor of Porto Alegre(2017 – present)TBATBAWork and progress Progressistas (PP) Brazilian Labour Party (PTB)111

Potential candidates PartyCandidateMost relevant politicaloffice or occupationPartyCandidates for Alternate SenatorsCoalitionElectoral number Ref. Podemos (PODE)Lasier Martins Senator for Rio Grande do Sul (2015 – present)TBATBATBATBA Social Democratic Party (PSD)Ana Amélia Lemos Extraordinary Secretary of Federative and International Relations of Rio Grande do Sul(2019–2022)TBATBATBATBABrazilian Socialist Party (PSB)Vicente BogoVice Governor of Rio Grande do Sul(1995–1999)TBATBATBATBA United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU) Fabiana SanguinéNo prior public officeTBATBATBATBA

Withdrawn candidates

Manuela d'Ávila (PCdoB) - State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (2015–2019); Federal Deputy from Rio Grande do Sul (2007–2015); City Councillor of Porto Alegre (2005–2017) and running mate of Fernando Haddad in 2018 Brazilian presidential election. She reported to the Workers' Party (PT) that she gave up from running for a Senate seat in Rio Grande do Sul. In the message, she claimed to be a victim of political violence and said she feared for the safety of her family, which, according to her, has been a target of threats and persecution by Bolsonaro's supporters. Nelson Marchezan Júnior (PSDB) - Mayor of Porto Alegre (2017–2021); Federal Deputy from Rio Grande do Sul (2011–2017) and State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (2007–2011). The former mayor of Porto Alegre says he doesn't intend to run again for any public office because he was disappointed and that he was willing to abandon public life because he understands that opponents and former allies "played dirty" in the 2020 Porto Alegre mayoral election. José Ivo Sartori (MDB) - Governor of Rio Grande do Sul (2015–2019); Mayor of Caxias do Sul (2005–2013); Federal Deputy from Rio Grande do Sul (2003–2005) and State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul (1983–2003). The former governor didn't present himself as a candidate for the Federal Senate in the party's public notice. Roberto Robaina (PSOL) - Councillor of Porto Alegre (2017 – present). Robaina was nominated as the first candidate for Alternate Senator on Olívio Dutra's ticket, who announced his intention to run for the Senate leading a collective term. If elected, Dutra and the alternates will share the term.

Legislative Assembly The result of the last state election and the current situation in the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul is given below:

Affiliation Members+/– Elected Current 8 9 1 8 8 6 7 1 4 6 2 2 5 3 2 4 2 4 4 New 33 22 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 514 101 2 0 2 4 0 4 Total 55 –

Opinion polls

Governor

First round The first round is scheduled to take place on 2 October 2022. Pollster/client(s)Date(s)conductedSample sizeLeiteLorenzoniPrettoHeinzeArgentaVieiraJobimRejaneOthersAbst.Undec.Lead28–29 July 2022Pedro Ruas and Beto Albuquerque withdrew their respective candidacies. Pollster/client(s)Date(s)conductedSample sizeLeiteLorenzoniPrettoRuasHeinzeBetoArgentaSouzaOthersAbst.Undec.LeadReal Time Big Data26–27 Jul 20221.50029%24%9%5%4%3%1%1%4%20%5%Paraná Pesquisas27 Jun–1 Jul 20221.54029,5%22,1%5,3%2,5%6,6%7,6%1,2%2,1%2,2%21%7,4%EXAME/IDEIA10–15 Jun 20221.00020%25%11%5%7%11%2%––20%5%–25%8%5%7%10%1%3%13,6%27%11,6%23%30%––––2%–30%15%Tie13 Jun 2022The former governor Eduardo Leite announces his candidacy for the government of Rio Grande do Sul.Pollster/client(s)Date(s)conductedSample sizeLeiteLorenzoniPrettoRuasHeinzeBetoRanolfoSouzaOthersAbst.Undec.LeadReal Time Big Data23–24 May 20221.500–23%7%6%6%6%7%2%4%39%16%23%20%6%4%4%5%–1%3%34%3%–27%8%7%––6%2%5%45%19%Paraná Pesquisas15–20 May 20221.540–21,9%4,3%4,9%7,8%12,3%5,9%1,6%7,1%34,3%9,6%27,3%19,2%4%3,8%6,9%9,5%–1,2%5,1%23%8,1%–23,2%–6,2%8,1%14%6,6%1,7%1,6%38,6%9,2%Real Time Big Data15–16 Apr 20221.200–20%5%–5%7%6%2%9%46%11%13%19%5%–5%5%–1%8%44%6%–25%16%––––11%11%37%9%––––23%15%–11%10%41%8%––––21%16%11%–42%5%––16%–22%––12%40%6%–22%–––16%–12%40%6%–21%–––14%13%–42%7%–22%15%–––12%–41%–21%15%–––13%–41%6%Instituto Amostra (FARSUL)29 Mar–2 Apr 20221.500–18,5%12,9%–6,2%14,3%4,4%3,1%8,4%32,3%4,2%32,3%14,5%8,8%–5%9,8%–2,7%6,4%20,6%17,8%24 Mar 2022Onyx Lorenzoni leaves Brazil Union and decides to join the Liberal Party.Pollster/client(s)Date(s)conductedSample sizeLeiteLorenzoniPrettoRuasHeinzeBetoRanolfoSartori Others Abst.Undec. LeadReal Time Big Data13–14 Jan 20221.00025%13%4%4%1%1%1%16%3%31%9%–18%4%5%2%3%2% 20%4%41% 2%–16%–6%–4%4% 23%4%43% 7%–20%4%6%–5%3%–2%55%14%–20%4%5%4%4%4%––57%15%–22%4%6%5%6%––2%55%16%Instituto Atlas17–23 Dec 20211.001–17,8% 18,6%–9,2%7,8%4,5%––38,6%0,8%

Second round The second round (if necessary) is scheduled to take place on 30 October 2022.

Lorenzoni vs. Beto Pollster/client(s)Date(s)conductedSample sizeLorenzoniBetoAbst.Undec.LeadParaná Pesquisas27 Jun–1 Jul 20221.54035,5%31%33,6%4,5%EXAME/IDEIA10–15 Jun 20221.00038%29%32%9%Lorenzoni vs. Leite