Carlos Bolsonaro Moves Electoral Domicile to Santa Catarina as Governor Backs 2026 Senate Run

Overview

• Brazil’s electoral court records on December 18 show Carlos Bolsonaro transferred his voter registration to São José, a city neighboring Florianópolis.
• He resigned his longtime seat on Rio de Janeiro’s city council and announced a pre-candidacy to represent Santa Catarina in the 2026 Senate race.
• Governor Jorginho Mello said Carlos will take one of PL’s two Senate spots in the state, with the second place yet to be defined.
• The move has disrupted earlier plans that involved figures such as Esperidião Amin and has exposed internal tensions within the state PL.
• Carlos visited the PL’s Santa Catarina headquarters with his brother Jair Renan on December 17 and wrote on December 19 that Santa Catarina “always” was his home.