São Paulo Governor Tarcsio de Freitas has formally backed Flavio Bolsonaro’s 2026 presidential campaign, signaling a pivotal shift in Brazil’s political landscape. The endorsement strengthens Bolsonaro’s coalition ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
- Tarcsio de Freitas, governor of São Paulo, endorsed Flavio Bolsonaro for 2026 presidency.
- São Paulo contributes 28% of Brazil’s GDP and 14% of the national electorate.
- Freitas has a 68% approval rating in São Paulo state polls.
- Bolsonaro’s campaign could see a 35% boost in São Paulo-based funding.
- Bovespa index rose 1.3% and real strengthened to R$5.12/USD post-endorsement.
- Eletrobras and Itaú Unibanco stocks rose 2.4% and 1.8%, respectively.
Tarcsio de Freitas, governor of Brazil’s most populous state, São Paulo, has publicly endorsed Flavio Bolsonaro’s candidacy for the 2026 presidential election. The announcement, made during a rally in São Paulo on December 8, 2025, marks a strategic alignment between two prominent figures within the conservative wing of Brazil’s political spectrum. Freitas, who has governed São Paulo since January 2023 with a 68% approval rating in recent state-level polls, cited Bolsonaro’s economic record and national security policies as key reasons for his support. The endorsement comes at a critical juncture, as the 2026 presidential race begins to take shape. Flavio Bolsonaro, former senator and brother of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has positioned himself as a unifying figure for the right-wing bloc. With Freitas’s backing, Bolsonaro gains access to São Paulo’s vast electoral machinery, a state that accounts for 28% of Brazil’s GDP and 14% of the national electorate. The move is expected to bolster Bolsonaro’s fundraising capacity, with early estimates suggesting a potential 35% increase in campaign contributions from São Paulo-based donors. Political analysts note that Freitas’s support could reshape party alliances, especially ahead of the 2024 municipal elections. The São Paulo state government oversees more than R$270 billion in annual expenditures, including infrastructure, health, and education—sectors that could become focal points in Bolsonaro’s national platform. The endorsement also signals a broader trend of regional leaders consolidating around a single conservative candidate to counter the rising influence of leftist and centrist parties. Market watchers are closely monitoring the political developments. The Brazilian stock market (Bovespa index) rose 1.3% the day after the announcement, while the real strengthened to R$5.12 per USD, reflecting investor optimism about political stability and continuity in economic policy. Sectors such as defense, infrastructure, and financial services saw notable gains, with stocks in companies like Eletrobras and Itaú Unibanco rising by 2.4% and 1.8%, respectively.