✓ verbatim from the press
Governors Ronaldo Caiado (PSD-GO) and Romeu Zema (Novo-MG) are evaluating joining forces on a single ticket for the 2026 presidential election, but still disagree on who would lead the ticket. The signaling occurred after a meeting between the two on Tuesday (26) in São Paulo, according to press reports. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Pré-candidato a presidente, Ronaldo Caiado (PSD) disse nesta quarta-feira (27) que existe a possibilidade dele e do também pré-candidato Romeu Zema (Novo) se unirem em uma única chapa"
When asked if he would accept being Caiado's running mate, Zema responded: "Couldn't it be the other way around?", indicating a preference to lead the ticket. Caiado, in turn, said there "exists that feeling" of unity after conversations about recent electoral polls, calling Zema an "open person". ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Questionado na terça-feira (26) se aceitaria ser vice de Caiado, o mineiro brincou: "Não poderia ser o contrário?"
"Com a última pesquisa que nós conversamos, existe esse sentimento e ele é uma pessoa aberta"
In the latest Datafolha poll, Caiado scored 4% of voting intentions and Zema 3%, distant from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) with 40%, and Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) with 31%. The decision on the alliance should wait until August, close to the deadline for candidate registration. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Na última pesquisa Datafolha, Caiado marcou 4% das intenções de voto e Zema, 3%. Eles estão distantes do presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), com 40%, e de Flávio, que teve 31%"
Zema indicated that political definitions usually occur "at midnight of the deadline," referring to the Electoral Justice calendar, which establishes August 15 as the deadline for candidate registration. Both pre-candidates maintain that the main objective is to "remove the PT from power". ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Essas conversas sempre ocorrem e, com toda certeza, o desfecho disso vai ser lá na data limite. Porque, na política, é na meia-noite da data limite que as coisas costumam ser definidas, infelizmente"
Both pre-candidates have low performance in current electoral polls
The definition about the alliance should occur close to the deadline for candidate registration
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
Zema was previously considered as a possible running mate for Flávio Bolsonaro
Zema's strategy of criticizing Flávio Bolsonaro generated controversy within the Novo Party itself
Conflicting versions (1)
Electoral poll performance
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What would be the real electoral viability of uniting the two candidacies in terms of vote transfer?
Why it's still unknown: There is no data on how each candidate's voters would react to a unified ticket or on the overlap between electoral bases
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What objective criteria will the two pre-candidates use to decide who would lead the ticket?
Why it's still unknown: Both indicated interest in leading, but did not reveal the parameters for the decision
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How do the PSD and Novo parties institutionally evaluate the possible alliance?
Why it's still unknown: The statements were personal from the pre-candidates, without official positioning from the parties
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What is the historical performance of vote transfer between Caiado's electoral base in Goiás and Zema's in Minas Gerais?
Why it's still unknown: There is no quantitative analysis available on the demographic and geographic overlap of each pre-candidate's supporters