Daniel Vilela Wins Goiás First Round, PL Becomes Largest State Assemblies Bloc

Overview

• Daniel Vilela (MDB) was elected governor of Goiás in the first round with about 58.88% of valid votes according to TSE counts, a result finalized after votes posted by the electoral tribunal showed large majorities for him across many municipalities.
• The PL increased its subnational power by winning 212 state and district deputy seats, a gain of 86 seats from 2022 that will strengthen the party’s bargaining power in state legislatures.
• Anthony Garotinho withdrew his appeal to the TSE over the indeferment of his Rio de Janeiro candidacy, a move reported on Monday that could remove his roughly 3% of votes from the count and hand the Rio governorship to Douglas Ruas without a second-round vote.
• Victories by sitting senators who ran for governor will change the Senate’s makeup because winners such as Sergio Moro and Cleitinho must resign their Senate seats so their first suplentes can take office for the remainder of the terms.
• Vilela takes office facing operational and political tests tied to Caiado’s legacy, including infrastructure and health backlogs and the need to build independent leadership beyond the patronage networks that helped his campaign.