Poll: Brazil’s Vice-president Mourão leads 2022 race for Rio de Janeiro governor

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Mourão has 18% of voting intentions in the stimulated scenario, when those polled are offered a selection of names, followed by the current mayor of Rio Eduardo Paes (PSD) with 15%, and federal deputy Marcelo Freixo (PSB) with 12%.

Next come ex-mayor of Niterói Rodrigo Neves (PDT) with 7% and current Rio governor Claudio Castro (PL) with 6%.

Born in Rio Grande do Sul, the general moved to Rio as a child and is not expected to be Jair Bolsonaro’s choice for vice-president in his reelection bid next year.

In turn, Paes has said he won’t be a candidate, but is working for the candidacy of Felipe Santa Cruz, current president of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB).

The poll further assessed a scenario with only those candidates who have already publicly announced their desire to run next year. In this poll, Freixo does better with 17% of the vote, followed by Neves (12%) and Castro (11%).

The candidates with the highest voting intentions are also the most rejected. Freixo is rejected by 25% and Mourão by 24%. Paes comes next with 20%, followed by Castro (15%), Santa Cruz (12%) and Neves (10%).

The poll interviewed 1,200 people between August 10 and 17 and the error margin is 2.8 percentage points plus or minus.