The 2024 Porto Alegre mayoral election took place on 6 October 2024. Voters elected a mayor, a vice mayor, and 36 councillors. The incumbent mayor, Sebastião Melo, a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), was elected in 2020[1] for his first term and ran for reelection.[2]
The mayor's term will begin on 1 January 2025 and end on 31 December 2028.[3]
Background
2020 election
The last mayoral election in Porto Alegre, held in 2020, resulted in the victory of the lawyer and politician Sebastião Melo in the second round. Melo obtained 370,550 votes (54.63% of the valid votes) against the 307,745 votes (45,37% of the valid votes) obtained by his opponent, Manuela d'Ávila (PCdoB).[1]
Approval ratings and 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods
In a poll conducted in the end of March 2024, Melo's government was approved by 58% of the citizens of Porto Alegre, making him the front-runner in most of the election scenarios.[4] However, after the 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods that happened in the end of April to May, that also affected the city of Porto Alegre, his lead in polls may be contested. One of the main themes of the 2024 elections will be the reconstruction of the city that is still flooded. The city's protection against floods are responsibility of the mayor of Porto Alegre and during the electoral campaign, his opponents may question his leadership and decisions that've been taken by his government during the floods.[5]
Possible postponement
There was a debate among national political forces about a possible postponement of the elections due to the floods in the state. However, the president of the Superior Electoral Court, Alexandre de Moraes, confirmed on 21 May 2024 that there is no discussions about a postponement. He states that there was no structural damage to the Regional Electoral Court of Rio Grande do Sul and to the electoral courts that would prevent the election from being held in the month of October throughout the state and in the city of Porto Alegre.[6]
Period of the 'party window' for councillors. During this period, the councillors are able to move to other political parties in order to run for election while not losing their respective political terms.
6 April
Deadline for all parties and party federations to obtain the registration of their statutes at the Superior Electoral Court and for all candidates to have their electoral domicile in the constituency in which they wish to contest the elections with the affiliation granted by the party.
15 May
Start of the preliminary fundraising campaign in the form of collective financing for potential candidates. During this period, candidates are not allowed to ask for votes and are still subjected to obey the rules regarding electoral propaganda on the Internet.
20 July – 5 August
On this date, party conventions begin to deliberate on coalitions and choose candidates for mayors and councillors tickets. Parties have until 15 August to register their names with the Brazilian Election Justice.
16 August
Beginning of electoral campaigns on an equal basis, with any advertising or demonstration explicitly requesting for votes before the date being considered irregular and subject to fines.
30 August –3 October
Broadcasting of free electoral propaganda on radio and television.
6 October
Date of mayoral elections.
27 October
Date of a possible second round in cities with more than 200,000 voters in which the most voted candidate for mayor has not reached 50% of the valid votes.
Any Ortiz – Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Rio Grande do Sul (2023–present); Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul (2015–2023) and Councillor of Porto Alegre (2013–2014).[18]
Luciana Genro – Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul (1995–2003; 2019–present) and member of the Chamber of Deputies from Rio Grande do Sul (2003–2011); she withdrew her candidacy on 2 March 2024 and will support Maria do Rosário's candidacy along with the party and the PSOL REDE Federation.[9]
Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB)
Nadine Anflor – Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul (2023–present).[19]
Liberal Party (PL)
Comandante Nádia – Councillor of Porto Alegre (2017–present).[18]
Luciano Zucco – Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Rio Grande do Sul (2023–present) and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul (2019–2023).[20]
Both Nádia and Zucco's candidacies were automatically withdrawn by the Liberal Party of Porto Alegre when the party nominated Betina Worm as the running mate of Sebastião Melo.[10][11]
A severe flood hits the state of Rio Grande do Sul and the city of Porto Alegre, resulting in the worst environmental disaster in the city's history.[26]
1 April
Nadine Anflor announces the withdrawal of her potential candidacy for mayor of Porto Alegre.[19]
Luciana Genro withdraws her potential candidacy and decides to support Maria do Rosário (PT).[9] Felipe Camozzato is announced as a potential candidate by the New Party (NOVO).[16] Comandante Nádia leaves Progressistas (PP) in order to join the Liberal Party (PL).[27]
In some opinion polls, the interviewee can choose more than one alternative (the so-called "multiple rejection"), therefore, the sum of the percentages of all candidates can exceed 100% of the votes in some scenarios.
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