Douglas Ruas, the 37-year-old president of the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly (Alerj), is on the cusp of being declared the state’s next governor after a decision by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to annul the votes cast for Anthony Garotinho. The ruling, issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, effectively shifts the electoral math, pushing Ruas over the 50% threshold required to secure victory without a second round.
The Legal Pivot That Reshaped the Election
The path to this outcome began with the legal status of Anthony Garotinho (Republicanos), whose candidacy had been sub judice throughout the campaign. While the Regional Electoral Court (TRE-RJ) had already rejected his registration, Garotinho remained on the ballot pending an appeal. Following the October 4 election, his defense filed a request to withdraw that appeal—a move interpreted as a final gamble to force a specific electoral outcome.
The TSE rejected the request to withdraw the appeal, ruling that the court’s jurisprudence does not permit this. By a 5-2 margin, the court maintained the disqualification of Garotinho, citing his suspension of political rights and failure to meet eligibility conditions for the 2026 elections. The court’s decision to annul his 274,411 votes—representing 3.17% of the total—forced a retotalization of the valid votes. This adjustment elevated Ruas from his initial 49.27% to 50.88%, officially clearing the hurdle for a first-round win.
Dissent and the Push for a Second Round
The decision was not without internal resistance. Ministers Sebastião Reis and Ricardo Cueva argued against the annulment of votes, suggesting that the electorate’s intent should be respected and a second round between Ruas and Eduardo Paes (PSD) should proceed. This minority view forms the cornerstone of the appeal now being prepared by Eduardo Paes.
Paes, who finished second with 44.16% of the recalculated valid votes, has announced his intention to challenge the TSE ruling at the Supreme Federal Court (STF). His coalition argues that the annulment undermines the constitutional requirement for an absolute majority and ignores the sovereignty of the popular vote. They are seeking a preliminary injunction to ensure the second round takes place as originally anticipated by the majority of voters.
A Historic Rise for the Youngest Governor
Should the TSE decision hold, Douglas Ruas will become the youngest governor of Rio de Janeiro in 67 years. At 37, he surpasses the record previously held by Anthony Garotinho, who took office at 38 in 1999. Ruas, a member of the Liberal Party (PL) and son of São Gonçalo Mayor Capitão Nelson, entered the race during his first term as a state deputy, having previously served as a secretary in his father’s municipal administration and as secretary of Cities in the government of Cláudio Castro.
The transition to the Palácio Guanabara, scheduled for January 1, 2027, marks a swift ascension for a politician whose career has been defined by his leadership of the Alerj. His victory—if finalized—brings an end to a tense week of legal maneuvering that began shortly after the polls closed on Sunday. As the TRE-RJ awaits formal instructions from the TSE to finalize the results, the state remains in a state of political flux, waiting to see if the Supreme Court will intervene in the TSE’s interpretation of electoral law.
“Com base nos votos divergentes apresentados no julgamento do Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE), que defenderam o respeito à soberania popular e à exigência constitucional de maioria absoluta para a eleição de governador, a coligação ‘Juntos para Mudar, Coragem para Reconstruir’ recorrerá ao Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) da decisão,” the Eduardo Paes campaign stated in an official release.
As the legal teams prepare their final arguments, the question remains: will the Supreme Court uphold the TSE’s technical annulment, or will the voters of Rio head back to the polls for a runoff?
