UP Names Serley Leal as Ceará Gubernatorial Candidate

Overview

• The Unidad Popular held a state convention on Thursday that formally confirmed Serley Leal as its candidate for governor and Catarina Matos as its Senate pick.
• Serley Leal is a 44-year-old Banco do Brasil employee who helped found UP in Ceará and has run in local and state races before with very small vote totals.
• Party leaders said UP will rely on street-level organizing, panflets and face-to-face outreach nationwide, citing minimal party TV time and a tiny share of public electoral funds.
• UP has not announced a running mate for Serley and plans to publish his detailed government program when formal campaigning begins on August 16.
• The party’s convention took place inside a crowded pre-campaign calendar and UP’s grassroots approach will be a test of whether volunteer mobilization can expand its modest electoral footprint.