Contested by the barrier clause and the departure of Guilherme Boulos to the general secretariat of the presidency, the PSOL seeks to renew its ranks with names known for their combative actions on social networks, with a view to the 2026 elections. In addition to avoiding a shrinkage of seats in the Chamber, the party is trying to win conflicts with Bolsonaro’s supporters, in states like São Paulo and Rio, to win the most voted deputies.
- Flávio Bolsonaro admits he could abandon his candidacy: “I have a price for that”
- Data sheet: 54% of Brazilians think Bolsonaro’s arrest is fair, while 40% disagree.
The main focus will be on São Paulo, where Boulos received more than a million votes in 2022, becoming the most voted in the state and second in the country. In 2023, during his candidacy for mayor, he received 2.1 million votes, but was defeated by Ricardo Nunes (MDB). His work in favor of the Lula government and against congressional movements, such as the Blindagem PEC, qualified him to occupy a ministry in the Lula government, thus leaving him excluded from the 2026 elections.
The void left by Boulos tends to be filled by MP Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP), the party’s main vote-getter in São Paulo. The state’s first trans woman elected to the House, she rose to prominence on issues such as ending the 6×1 scale.
— We believe that Boulos’ vote can be repeated, especially thanks to its strength among young people — says the national president of the PSOL, Paula Coradi.
Erika foresees a direct conflict with Bolsonaro’s candidates so that the party again nominates the name with the most votes in the House.
— It is a huge responsibility to confront the extreme right, who will be very angry, — said the deputy.
In 2022, the PSOL reached the barrier clause in 12 states; in 2026, it will have to elect at least 13 deputies distributed among a third of the units of the federation or reach 2.5% of the valid votes. Besides Boulos, other names from São Paulo could emerge from the controversy. At 91, Luiza Erundina assesses whether she will run for re-election. Ivan Valente, 79, will launch Juliano Medeiros as his successor. The acronym will also invest in the candidacy of Natalia Szermeta, Boulos’ wife, who has expanded her presence in events and her articulation on the networks. Internally, he is expected to absorb votes related to the Homeless Workers Movement (MTST), where Boulos began his political career.
In Rio, the party is banking on councilor Rick Azevedo, founder of Movimento Vida Além do Trabalho and activist for the end of the 6×1 scale, who surprised in the 2024 municipal elections. In addition to Rick, the party expects federal deputy Talíria Petrone, who reached the second round of the Niterói mayoral election, to be a vote-getter.
— Placing a black woman at the head of the right would be very representative — says Talíria.
- Sao Paulo: The bet is on Erika Hilton as the top vote-getter. The acronym also refers to Natalia Szermeta, Boulos’ wife. Luiza Erundina could leave the race and Ivan Valente is grooming Juliano Medeiros as her successor.
- Rio de Janeiro: The party will opt for names very present on the networks, such as Rick Azevedo, and bet on the re-election of Chico Alencar and Pastor Henrique Vieira. The main wait is Talíria Petrone, considered a vote-getter.
- Rio Grande do Sul: The PSOL will launch Manuela D’Ávila to the Senate. Newly affiliated after leaving the PCdoB, she is trying to resume her national activities and strengthen the party’s presence in the state, in an attempt to consolidate its trajectory.
In Minas, the focus will be on the Senate, with the candidacy of former congresswoman Áurea Carolina, who is seeking to become the state’s first black senator.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the PSOL will launch former MP Manuela D’Ávila, former PCdoB, into the Senate. Manuela says she has already had “divergences and convergences” with the new party, but she highlights her work with social movements as a differentiator for 2026.
“I was looking for a party to not only run for, but to join forces and help tell people that there is another way to fight,” he said.
In the Northeast, the party is looking to expand with names like Renato Roseno (CE), a state deputy from Ceará who is expected to run for the House in 2026 – the PSOL has never elected a federal deputy in the region. In the Center-West, the acronym plans to introduce into the Chamber the district deputy Fábio Felix, the most voted in the history of the DF, known for his work on LGBTQIA+ issues.
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