2026 Federal District gubernatorial election

<noinclude> </noinclude>

The 2026 Federal District gubernatorial election will be held on 4 October 2026 in the Federal District of Brazil. Voters will elect a governor and vice governor, two senators, eight representatives for the Chamber of Deputies, and 24 members of the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District. If no gubernatorial candidate receives a majority of the valid votes in the first round, a runoff election will be held on 25 October.

Background

Electoral calendar

Governor

Incumbent governor Ibaneis Rocha of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) was re-elected in 2022 in the first round with 50.27% of the valid vote, defeating Leandro Grass (26.27%) and other candidates. As he is ineligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms, the 2026 election is expected to be for an open seat.

Senator

Senators in Brazil serve eight-year terms, and in 2026 each electorate will choose two senators. In the Federal District, the seats currently held by Izalci Lucas (PL) and Leila Barros (PDT), both serving 2019–2027, are scheduled to be contested in 2026.

Opinion polls

Governor

In early 2026 polling, vice governor Celina Leão and former governor José Roberto Arruda were among the names tested in first-round scenarios, alongside opposition figures such as Leandro Grass.

Senatorial

Polling has also tested potential 2026 Senate slates in the Federal District, including scenarios featuring governor Ibaneis Rocha as a prospective candidate.

Gubernatorial candidates

Declared candidates

• Ricardo Cappelli, president of the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI) and former federal interventor for public security in the Federal District (2023), launched by the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) as its prospective 2026 nominee.
• José Roberto Arruda, former governor of the Federal District (2007–2009), who has sought to organize a 2026 run and joined the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
• Leandro Grass, president of the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) and runner-up in the 2022 gubernatorial election, who has been discussed within the PT-led field as a prospective 2026 candidate.

Expressed interest

• Celina Leão, vice governor of the Federal District (2023–present), has been widely cited as the preferred succession name within the incumbent governing group and has appeared in early polling scenarios.

Ineligible

• Ibaneis Rocha, incumbent governor (2019–present), is ineligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.

Senatorial candidates

Declared candidates

• Ibaneis Rocha, governor of the Federal District (2019–present), has been cited in reporting and polling as a prospective candidate for one of the two Senate seats.

Possible candidates

• Izalci Lucas, incumbent senator for the Federal District (2019–2027).
• Leila Barros, incumbent senator for the Federal District (2019–2027).

Notes

References