Jorginho Mello Confirms Carlos Bolsonaro on PL’s Senate Slate in Santa Catarina

Overview

• In an interview with Gazeta do Povo, the governor said Carlos Bolsonaro will be one of the PL names for the Senate in 2026 and stressed that formal nominations will only be decided in August 2026.
• Jorginho Mello described an arrangement in which Jair Bolsonaro would indicate Senator Esperidião Amin (PP) while he would indicate Caroline de Toni, noting that Carlos’s entry rules out a PL-only ticket.
• Caroline de Toni said she will seek another party to run for the Senate if the dispute is not resolved inside the PL and asserted she would still have Jair Bolsonaro’s support outside the party.
• Before the confirmation, Jorginho faced online criticism from Bolsonaro supporters for staying publicly neutral as party figures such as Ana Campagnolo and Eduardo Bolsonaro clashed over Carlos’s bid.
• Supporters of Carlos, including federal deputy Júlia Zanatta and Senator Jorge Seif, pressed for a PL-only slate, with Zanatta posting a “Game of Santa Catarina” photo featuring rifles as tensions flared on social media.