Lula Confirms Alckmin and Unveils Major Cabinet Shake-Up to Kick Off 2026 Race

Overview

• Lula named Geraldo Alckmin as his running mate and announced changes across 14 ministries on Tuesday, directing departing ministers to defend the government on regional campaign trails.
• Rio’s electoral court finished a 2022 vote recount on Tuesday that removed 97,822 ballots from ousted deputy Rodrigo Bacellar and reassigned the seat to PL’s Renan Jordy after a technical substitution.
• The Rio outcome now waits for appeals and a formal certification set for April 14, while the Supreme Court will rule on April 8 whether a short-term governor is chosen by voters or by state deputies, with the state’s top judge remaining acting governor until then.
• PSD formally launched Goiás Governor Ronaldo Caiado on Monday, but a Paraná Pesquisas poll showed Lula at 41.3%, Flávio Bolsonaro at 37.8%, and Caiado at 3.6%, a picture Lula’s chief of staff said shows little room for a third force.
• Party switches are reshaping state races as up to six Ceará opposition deputies join the PSDB before the April 3 window closes and a new poll on Wednesday put Ciro Gomes ahead of Governor Elmano de Freitas by 46.6% to 33.9%, while in Bahia Senator Jaques Wagner hinted Lula could bless the governing slate in Salvador with Geraldo Júnior favored for vice.