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BRASIL Four Brazilian states chose governors in the first round
Mato Grosso, Ceará, Pará and Alagoas settled their gubernatorial races on Sunday without a runoff. According to Superior Electoral Court figures cited by Agência Brasil, the winners were Otaviano Pivetta, Elmano de Freitas, Dr. Daniel and JHC.
Gubernatorial elections in Mato Grosso, Ceará, Pará and Alagoas were decided on Sunday in the first round, according to results from Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court reported by Agência Brasil.
In Mato Grosso, businessman Otaviano Pivetta of Republicanos won reelection with 61.7% of valid votes, or 985,996 ballots. Agência Brasil reported that with 87.2% of ballot boxes counted by 7:13 p.m., he held a wide lead over Wellington Fagundes, who had 22.97%. Doutora Natasha followed with 15.08%, while Rafaell Milas had 0.56%, Sargento Laudicério 0.18% and Maurício Coelho 0.15%.
Agência Brasil said that after the result became clear, Pivetta said he was surprised and moved by the outcome. The incumbent took office in March 2026 after Mauro Mendes resigned. He had previously served three terms as mayor of Lucas do Rio Verde and two terms as vice governor.
In Ceará, Elmano de Freitas of the Workers’ Party was reelected with 52.88% of valid votes, totaling 2,770,571, according to Agência Brasil. With 96.79% of ballot boxes counted by 9:08 p.m., he was ahead of Ciro Gomes of the PSDB, who had 46.52%, or 2,437,165 votes.
According to Agência Brasil, the reelected governor said on social media that the victory reflected recognition of his administration and the unity of the people of Ceará, and that the state would keep moving forward. Elmano de Freitas has a law degree and has served as Fortaleza’s education secretary and as a state lawmaker for two terms. He also ran for mayor of the capital in 2012.
In Pará, Dr. Daniel of Podemos was elected governor with 51.75% of valid votes, equal to 2,307,995 ballots. Agência Brasil reported that with 97.7% of ballot boxes counted by 9:02 p.m., he was ahead of Hana Ghassan of the MDB, who had 46.15%.
Agência Brasil said Daniel Barbosa Santos is a physician who was born in Açailândia, in Maranhão, and served two terms as mayor of Ananindeua. He was also a city council member, a state lawmaker and president of Pará’s Legislative Assembly.
In Alagoas, JHC of the PSDB won the governorship with 52.09% of valid votes, or 873,978 ballots, Agência Brasil reported. With 98.28% of ballot boxes counted by 9:38 p.m., he was ahead of Renan Filho of the MDB, who had 47.48%, or 796,530 votes.
Agência Brasil noted that João Henrique Caldas, known as JHC, served as a state and federal lawmaker before being elected mayor of Maceió in 2020 and reelected in 2024. He stepped down from that post in April 2026 to run for governor of Alagoas.
The gubernatorial vote in those states took place alongside the elections for president, senator and federal, state or district lawmakers. Since all four winners received more than half of valid votes, there will be no runoff in any of the four states.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
