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2026 Bahia gubernatorial election

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The 2026 Bahia gubernatorial election will be held in the state of Bahia, Brazil, on Sunday 4 October 2026. Voters will elect a Governor, Vice Governor, two Senators, 39 representatives for the Chamber of Deputies, and 63 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 Jerônimo Rodrigues of the Workers' Party (PT), elected in 2022 with 52.79% of the vote in the second round, is currently running for reelection. Incumbent senators Jaques Wagner of the Workers' Party (PT) and Angelo Coronel of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) are also eligible to run for reelection.

Background

Electoral calendar

Governor

Incumbent governor Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT) was elected in 2022 in the second round with 52.79% of the vote, defeating former Salvador mayor ACM Neto of the Brazil Union (União), who received 47.21%.

Rodrigues, a university professor and agricultural engineer, previously served as the State Secretary of Rural Development and Education. He was supported by a forceful coalition led by outgoing governor (and current Chief of Staff) Rui Costa, extending the PT's governance of the state which began in 2007. His alliance with the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) was solidified by his selection of vice governor candidate Geraldo Júnior, the former President of the Salvador City Council who broke with the opposition to join the government ticket.

Senator

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

Jaques Wagner, a founding member of the PT and former Governor of Bahia (2007–2015), was elected to the Senate in 2018 with over 4 million votes. A senior figure in national politics, he has served as Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff under previous PT administrations and remains a key articulator for the Lula government.

Angelo Coronel, a businessman and former President of the Legislative Assembly of Bahia (ALBA), was elected as a member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in 2018. He secured the second senate seat as part of the coalition led by then-Governor Rui Costa, defeating incumbent legislators from the opposition. He is eligible to run for a second term.

Gubernatorial candidates

Declared candidates

  • Jerônimo Rodrigues, university professor and agronomist engineer, current Governor of Bahia (since 2023), former State Secretary of Education (2019–2022), and former State Secretary of Rural Development (2015–2019).
  • ACM Neto, lawyer, current vice-president of União Brasil (since 2022), former Mayor of Salvador (2013–2020), former Federal Deputy (2003–2012), and candidate for Governor of Bahia in 2022.
  • João Roma, lawyer, current President of the Liberal Party (PL) in Bahia (since 2022), former Minister of Citizenship (2021–2022), former Federal Deputy (2019–2022), and candidate for Governor of Bahia in 2022.
  • José Carlos Aleluia, professor and engineer, former Federal Deputy (1991–2011; 2015–2019), former President of Chesf, and candidate for Senate in 2010.

Expressed interest

  • Kleber Rosa, social scientist and civil police investigator, current political leader, candidate for Governor of Bahia in 2022, and candidate for Mayor of Salvador in 2024.

Speculated by the media

  • Rui Costa, economist, current Chief of Staff of the Presidency (since 2023), former Governor of Bahia (2015–2022), former State Secretary of the Civil House (2012–2014), and former Federal Deputy (2011–2014).
  • Bruno Soares Reis, lawyer, current Mayor of Salvador (since 2021), former State Deputy (2011–2016), and former Vice-Mayor of Salvador (2017–2020).

Senatorial candidates

Declared candidates

Possible candidates

Declined or withdrew

Notes

References