Brazil elections 2022: The Rio state governor candidates

Seven names have put themselves forward as candidates for the government of Rio de Janeiro in the 2022 elections, according to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

The Electoral Justice has yet to evaluate the viability of the candidacies. See the complete list of candidates for governor of Rio de Janeiro, formatted in alphabetical order.

CLÁUDIO CASTRO (LIBERAL PARTY – PL)

Cláudio Castro, 42, has been governor of Rio de Janeiro since May 2021. He assumed the chair after the impeachment of former governor Wilson Witzel, of whom he was vice governor.

A law graduate, Castro was elected councilman for the PSC in 2016 before joining Witzel’s government. The mayor of Duque de Caxias, Washington Reis (MDB), is a vice candidate on the slate.

CYRO GARCIA (PSTU)

Professor Cyro Garcia, 67, has a law degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), a master’s, and a doctorate in history from the Federal Fluminense University (UFF).

He participated in the foundation of the Workers’ Party (PT) and the Workers’ Unified Center (CUT), but, years later, he disassociated himself from both and helped found the PSTU and the Central Sindical Popular Conlutas. Samantha Guedes is the vice candidate.

JULIETE PANTOJA (UP)

Born in Saracuruna, in Rio state’s Baixada Fluminense region, Juliete Pantoja, 32, is state vice-president of the Popular Unity (UP) and coordinates the Movement of Struggle in the Neighborhoods, Villages, and Favelas (MLB), which organizes urban occupations and fights for people’s right to housing. Her vice-governor candidate is Juliana Alves, an architecture student.

MARCELO FREIXO (PSB)

Federal deputy Marcelo Freixo, 54 years old, graduated in History and Economics, joined the PSB in 2021 after a long performance in the PSOL.

Before reaching the House of Representatives in 2018, he was a state deputy between 2008 and 2017 and ran for mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 2012 and 2016. The vice-governor on his ticket is Cesar Maia (PSDB).

PAULO GANIME (Novo)

Federal deputy Paulo Ganime, 39, the current leader of the Novo party in the House of Representatives, is a production engineer and studied economics. Before entering politics in 2018, he worked in finance and project management in multinational companies. His vice candidate is biologist Helio Secco.

RODRIGO NEVES (PDT)

Born in São Gonçalo, Rodrigo Neves, 45, has a degree in sociology and started his political career in the 1990s. He has been a councilman, state deputy, state secretary, and twice mayor of Niterói. The vice-governor candidate is the former president of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), Felipe Santa Cruz (PSD).

WILSON WITZEL (PMB)

The former governor of Rio de Janeiro, Wilson Witzel, 54, is trying to return to the post from which he was removed in 2020 amid accusations of corruption, denied by him.

He served as a federal judge from 2001 to 2018, when he won the election as Rio’s governor.

He suffered impeachment in April 2021 and became ineligible for five years by unanimous decision of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice’s (TJRJ) Special Mixed Court.

He is now trying to reverse the decision. His running vice governor is Sidclei Bernardo.

CANDIDATES FOR THE SENATE IN THE STATE OF RIO DE JANEIRO

• Alessandro Molon (PSB)
• André Ceciliano (PT)
• Bárbara Sinedino (PSTU)
• Cabo Daciolo (PDT)
• Clarissa Garotinho (União Brasil)
• Daniel Silveira (PTB)
• Hiran Roedel (PCB)
• Marcelo Itagiba (Avante)
• Raul Bittencourt (UP)
• Former Brazilian soccer star, Romário (PL)

With information from Exame

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error