Senator Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) will be the vice-presidential candidate on Romeu Zema’s ticket for the 2026 Brazilian presidential election [1], [2].
The move signals a strategic shift for the Novo party as it seeks to present a unified front for the national executive branch. By pairing Zema with Girão, the party is consolidating its leadership to appeal to a broader conservative base across different regions of Brazil.
The announcement was confirmed Aug. 4, 2026 [2], [3], the senator’s office in Brasília said [1], [2]. This decision follows a party mandate to create a "puro-sangue" or pure-blood slate, meaning both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates must belong to the same party [4], [5].
To accommodate this national run, Girão abandoned his previous campaign for the governorship of Ceará [4], [6]. The 53-year-old senator shifted his focus from regional leadership to the national ticket to support Zema's bid for the presidency [1], [7].
The 2026 election cycle remains a central focus for Brazilian politics as parties finalize their coalitions [2]. The Novo party's decision to avoid a multi-party ticket for the top two spots reflects a desire for ideological consistency in their governance platform [4], [5].
Girão's transition from a gubernatorial candidate to a vice-presidential contender alters the political landscape in Ceará, leaving a vacancy in the Novo party's regional leadership for the upcoming vote [4], [6].
“Eduardo Girão will be the vice-presidential candidate on Romeu Zema’s ticket”
The selection of a 'pure-blood' ticket suggests that the Novo party is prioritizing ideological purity and internal party cohesion over the traditional Brazilian political practice of forming broad, multi-party coalitions to secure more votes. By choosing Girão, Zema gains a partner with legislative experience and a presence in the Northeast, potentially expanding the party's reach beyond its traditional strongholds.
