Keep an eye on Brazil’s state races

State races will help shape the national election

Brazil’s 2018 presidential election is five months away, but it has certainly attracted attention. There is, of course, no shortage of storylines – from the front-runner who is in jail to the extreme-right-winger who leads all polls. This year’s race occurs during a crucial moment for Brazil, with the country struggling to recover from the recession and facing deep social divides.

But under the radar, the political forces within each state are operating at full-throttle. Don’t be fooled – these races will help define the presidential election. In a country as vast as Brazil, having a strong local ally is crucial for grassroots politics. While social media will play a big part in shaping voters’ preferences, they alone won’t do the trick.

The Brazilian Report has analyzed the races in the country’s more critical states from electoral, social, and economic standpoints.

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São Paulo

Brazil’s richest state concentrates 32.4 percent of the country’s GDP and accounts for 33 million voters – that is, 22 percent of the people who will head to the polls. The state has been dominated by center-right PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party) for the past 24 years, when the party began a six-election winning streak.

Former Governor Geraldo Alckmin left office in April in order to run for president. Oddly enough, he might support two candidates in the race:...

Maria Martha Bruno

Maria Martha is a journalist with 14 years of experience in politics, arts, and breaking news. She has already collaborated with Al Jazeera, NBC, and CNN, among others. She has also worked as an international correspondent in Buenos Aires.