The 2026 Ceara general election were held on 4 October 2026 in the Brazilian state of Ceará. Voters elected a Governor, Vice Governor, two Senators, 22 representatives for the Chamber of Deputies, and 46 Legislative Assembly members.
Incumbent governor Elmano de Freitas of the Workers' Party (PT), elected in 2022 with 54.02% of the vote, is currently running for reelection. Incumbent senators Cid Gomes of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) and Eduardo Girão of the New Party (NOVO) are also eligible to run for reelection.
Background
Electoral calendar
Electoral calendar15 MayStart of crowdfunding of candidates20 July to 5 AugustParty conventions for choosing candidates and coalitions16 August to 1 OctoberPeriod of exhibition of free electoral propaganda on radio, television and on the internet related to the first round4 OctoberFirst round of 2026 electionsuntil 19 DecemberDelivery of electoral diplomas for those who were elected in the 2026 elections by the Brazilian Election Justice
Governor Incumbent governor Elmano de Freitas of the Workers' Party (PT) was elected in 2022 in the first round with 54.02% of the vote, defeating Capitão Wagner of the Brazil Union (União) and former Fortaleza mayor Roberto Cláudio of the Democratic Labour Party (PDT).
De Freitas, a lawyer and former state deputy, was supported by a left-wing coalition championed by former governor and current Minister of Education Camilo Santana. His alliance with the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) was solidified by his selection of vice governor candidate Jade Romero, who had previously served in the state executive branch.
Senator Senators in Brazil serve an 8-year term, meaning the incumbents were elected on tickets in 2018.
Cid Gomes, a civil engineer and former Governor of Ceará (2007–2015), was elected as a member of the Democratic Labour Party (PDT). Following a high-profile split within the Gomes political family and the local PDT branch, he joined the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) in 2024 to realign with the ruling state coalition led by the PT.
Eduardo Girão, a businessman and former president of Fortaleza Esporte Clube, was elected as a member of the Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) in a surprise victory over former Senate President Eunício Oliveira. He joined Podemos (PODE) in 2019 and later switched to the New Party (NOVO) in 2023. He has established himself as a vocal opposition figure in the Senate, especially on the issue of abortion.
Gubernatorial candidates
Confirmed candidates GovernorVice GovernorCoalitionPartiesCandidatePartyFederationRelevant officesCandidatePartyFederationRelevant offices13Elmano de FreitasElmano de Freitas da CostaPTFE Brasil Municipal Secretary of Education of Fortaleza (2011–2012); State Deputy of Ceará (2015–2022); Governor of Ceará (2023–2026).Gabriella Aguiar Gabriela Pequeno Costa Gomes de AguiarPSD State Deputy of Ceará (2023–2024); Municipal Secretary of Human Rights and Social Development of Fortaleza (2025–2026); Vice Mayor of Fortaleza (2025–2026).Ceará Forte do Lado Certo(FE Brasil (PT, PCdoB and PV), PSD, PSB, PSOL REDE Fed. (PSOL and REDE), PDT, MDB, Republicanos, PODE, Solidary Renewal Fed. (PRD and Solidariedade and MOBILIZA)14Delegado HuggoHuggo Leonardo de Lima AnastácioMISSÃOFelipe Moreira Felipe Silva MoreiraMISSÃO16Zé BatistaJosé Batista NetoPSTUIvonete Felix Maria Ivonete Ferreira FelixPSTU29Ieri BragaIeri de Sousa Braga JúniorPCOLaerte Melo Laerte Silva de MeloPCO30Vera LúciaVera Lúcia da SilvaNOVOCapitão Amilton Gomes Amilton Alves GomesNOVO35Danilo SoaresDanilo Soares SousaDemocrataEryck Veloso Francisco Eryck de Souza VelosoDemocrata45Ciro GomesCiro Ferreira GomesPSDB State Deputy of Ceará (1985–1989); Mayor of Fortaleza (1989–1990); Governor of Ceará (1991–1994); Minister of Finance of Brazil (1994–1995); Minister of National Integration of Brazil (2003–2006); Federal Deputy for Ceará (2007–2011); State Secretary of Health of Ceará (2013–2014).Roberto Cláudio Roberto Cláudio Rodrigues BezerraUNIÃOUPB State Deputy of Ceará (2007–2012); Mayor of Fortaleza (2013–2020).Unir Para Mudar(PSDB Cidadania Fed. (PSDB and Cidadania), UPB (UNIÃO and PP), PL, Avante and DC)80Serley LealSerley de Sousa LealUPCatherine Teles Catherine Morais TelesUP
Declined to be candidates
Camilo Santana, agronomist, minister of education (2023–present), former governor of Ceará (2015–2022), and former state deputy of Ceará (2011–2015). Cid Gomes, civil engineer, incumbent senator for Ceará (2019–present), former minister of education (2015), former governor of Ceará (2007–2015), former mayor of Sobral (1997–2005), and former state deputy of Ceará (1991–1997). Tasso Jereissati, business administrator, former senator for Ceará (2003–2011; 2015–2023), former governor of Ceará (1987–1991; 1995–2002), and former national president of the PSDB. José Sarto, physician, former mayor of Fortaleza (2021–2024), former president of the Legislative Assembly of Ceará (2019–2020), former state deputy of Ceará (1995–2020), and former president of the Municipal Chamber of Fortaleza (1990–1992).
Senatorial candidates Confirmed candidates SenatorSubstitute membersCoalitionPartiesCandidatePartyFederationRelevant offices162Reginaldo FerreiraReginaldo Ferreira de AraújoPSTUProfessor Félix(PSTU)Magela(PSTU)180Luizianne LinsLuizianne de Oliveira LinsREDEPSOL REDE Fed. Councillor of Fortaleza (1997–2002); State Deputy of Ceará (2003–2004); Mayor of Fortaleza (2005–2012); Federal Deputy for Ceará (2015–2026).Chagas Vieira(PDT)Rodrigo Oliveira(MDB)Ceará Forte do Lado Certo(FE Brasil (PT, PCdoB and PV), PSD, PSB, PSOL REDE Fed. (PSOL and REDE), PDT, MDB, Republicanos, PODE, Solidary Renewal Fed. (PRD and Solidariedade and MOBILIZA)222Alcides FernandesAlcides Fernandes da SilvaPL State Deputy of Ceará (2023–2026).João Barroso(PSDB)Denísio Pinheiro(PSDB)Unir Para Mudar(PSDB Cidadania Fed. (PSDB and Cidadania), UPB (UNIÃO and PP), PL, Avante and DC)290Lino AlvesLino Alves de AlmeidaPCOTiago Lima(PCO)Francisco de Assis(PCO)300General TheophiloGuilherme Cals Theophilo Gaspar de OliveiraNOVO Secretary of Public Security of Brazil (2019–2020).Dra. Verônica Amaral(NOVO)Capelli(NOVO)400Cid GomesCid Ferreira GomesPSB State Deputy of Ceará (1991–1997); Mayor of Sobral (1997–2005); Governor of Ceará (2007–2015); Minister of Education of Brazil (2015); Senator for Ceará (2019–2026).Júnior Mano(PSB)Júlio Ventura Neto(PSB)Ceará Forte do Lado Certo(FE Brasil (PT, PCdoB and PV), PSD, PSB, PSOL REDE Fed. (PSOL and REDE), PDT, MDB, Republicanos, PODE, Solidary Renewal Fed. (PRD and Solidariedade and MOBILIZA)444Capitão WagnerWagner Sousa GomesUNIÃOUPB Councillor of Fortaleza (2013–2015); State Deputy of Ceará (2015–2019); Federal Deputy for Ceará (2019–2023); Municipal Secretary of Health of Maracanaú (2023–2024).Prisco Bezerra(UNIÃO)Lúcio Gomes(PSDB)Unir Para Mudar(PSDB Cidadania Fed. (PSDB and Cidadania), UPB (UNIÃO and PP), PL, Avante and DC)800Catarina MatosCatarina da Graça Almeida MatosUPEmanuel Menezes(UP)Carlos Feitosa(UP)
Results Governor
Senator
Chamber of Deputies
Legislative Assembly
Notes
References