How a governor is elected in Brazil
A governor is chosen by voters in each state and in the Federal District. To win in the first round, a candidate needs more than half of the valid votes. If no one gets there, the two leading candidates face a runoff, and whoever has more votes wins. The governor and vice governor run on the same ticket.
Brazil Election 2026 · Published October 11, 2026 · Updated October 25, 2026 · Source: TSE
Who votes for governor?
Voters in each state vote for the governor of their state, and voters in the Federal District vote for the governor of the district. The election takes place on the same day as the vote for president, senators and deputies.
In the runoff, voters cast a ballot for governor only in the states where there is a contest. In 2026, there are six: Acre, Amazonas, Federal District, Espírito Santo, Rio Grande do Norte and Tocantins.
The vote for governor is separate from the vote for president, even though both are chosen on the same day. Each office has its own count and its own result.
How many votes does a governor need in the first round?
A candidate needs more than half of the state's valid votes, known as an absolute majority. Blank and null votes are not counted in this calculation, and the percentage is based on valid votes.
In 2026, 21 governors were elected in the first round. In Alagoas, for example, JHC (PSDB) was elected with 52.2% of the valid votes. When no one tops 50%, there is a runoff.
When a candidate wins more than 50% of the valid votes in the first round, the election ends there and the second-place candidate does not advance to a runoff. An elected candidate with more than half of the valid votes does not need a new vote.
| State | Situation | % of the leader |
|---|---|---|
| Alagoas | JHC (PSDB) elected in the first round | 52.2% |
| Bahia | Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT) elected in the first round | 55.8% |
| Acre | Mailza Assis (PP) heads to the runoff against Alan Rick (Republicanos) | 49.8% |
What happens without an absolute majority?
The two most-voted candidates advance to the runoff on October 25, 2026. In that vote, whoever has more valid votes wins, with no 50% requirement.
The states with a governor runoff in 2026 are the six listed above. In the rest, the governor was already elected in the first round, and voters cast a ballot only for president in the runoff.
In the governor runoff, the vote is held only between the state's two most-voted candidates. Voters in that state cast a ballot for this office, even if they voted for another candidate in the first round.
Who is the vice governor?
The governor and vice governor are elected on the same ticket. A vote for the governor candidate also elects the vice governor on that ticket.
The elected governor takes office on January 6, 2027, under Constitutional Amendment 111/2021. For other succession rules, see the Federal Constitution and the TSE portal.
Where can I follow the governor race?
Brazil Election 2026 shows the governor result in all 27 states at https://eleicoes2026brasil.com/governadores, with the candidate who is leading and the percentage of valid votes.
The figures come from the TSE, which also publishes results at https://resultados.tse.jus.br, and the Resultados app shows the same data. That is why the numbers match in all of these places.
Sources
Federal Constitution: https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/constituicao/constituicao.htm
Superior Electoral Court: https://www.tse.jus.br
Frequently asked questions
Does a governor need an absolute majority?
Yes, in the first round. A governor is elected with more than half of the state's valid votes. If no candidate reaches that number, there is a runoff between the two most-voted candidates.
Which states have a governor runoff in 2026?
There is a governor runoff in Acre, Amazonas, the Federal District, Espírito Santo, Rio Grande do Norte and Tocantins, on October 25, 2026.
Does voting for governor also elect the vice governor?
Yes. The vice governor is elected on the same ticket as the governor, and a vote for the governor candidate also counts for the vice governor on that ticket.
When does the elected governor take office?
The elected governor takes office on January 6, 2027, under Constitutional Amendment 111/2021.
Who is in the governor runoff in Acre?
Mailza Assis (PP), with 49.8% of the valid votes in the first round, and Alan Rick (Republicanos), with 32.3%, are in the runoff in Acre on October 25, 2026.