{"id":79619,"date":"2024-10-02T17:14:25","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T20:14:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=79619"},"modified":"2024-10-04T23:01:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-05T02:01:08","slug":"meet-rio-de-janeiros-2024-mayoral-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=79619","title":{"rendered":"Meet Rio de Janeiro’s 2024 Mayoral Candidates"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Candidates<\/a>
Candidates for mayor of Rio. 2024 Elections<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/i><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n

In 2024, seven men and two women are running for mayor of Rio de Janeiro from nine of Brazil’s several dozen political parties<\/a>. Only one male candidate self-identifies as Black, reflecting a decrease in representation compared to the 2020 election, both in terms of female and Black participation. In 2020, 43% of candidates were women and 29% were Black, whereas in 2024, 22% are women and 11% are Black. This despite the latest IBGE<\/a> national census identifying 54% of Rio de Janeiro\u2019s population as female and 54% is Black. Rio de Janeiro has the second largest Black population<\/a> in Brazil, where Black women make up the largest single demographic group<\/a>. The city of Rio has a population of 6,211,423, with 5,009,373 registered voters<\/a>. In addition to electing the mayor, voters will also choose representatives for City Council<\/a>. The first round of voting will take place on Sunday, October 6, and if necessary, a second round will be held on October 27.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read the mini-bio and a brief summary of each mayoral candidate’s policy proposals, organized by rank order,\u00a0according to a recent DataFolha<\/em> poll<\/a>:<\/h4>\n

Eduardo Paes (PSD)<\/h3>\n
\"Eduardo<\/a>
Eduardo Paes. Photo: Leo Martins \/ Ag\u00eancia O Globo\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 55 \u2013 Campaign \u201cThe work continues. Rio moves forward.<\/span><\/a>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eduardo Paes<\/a>, 54, is the current mayor of Rio de Janeiro and is running for reelection for a fourth term<\/a>. Born and raised in the city’s South Zone<\/a>, he graduated with a law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio<\/a>). At 23, he was appointed sub-mayor of the West Zone I region (covering Barra da Tijuca<\/a>, Recreio dos Bandeirantes<\/a>, and Jacarepagu\u00e1<\/a>) during mayor C\u00e9sar Maia<\/a>\u2019s first term. In 2024, his campaign focus is on infrastructure and transportation projects. He promises to expand the BRT Seguro<\/a> (Safe BRT) program, with increased patrolling at bus stations, and to revitalize and expand the Bus Rapid Transit\u00a0fleet. He also pledges to improve healthcare access and raise the quality of public education by creating new integrated learning centers.<\/p>\n

With regard to favelas and working-class communities, Paes highlights three initiatives for his fourth term: expanding the coverage of the Morar Carioca<\/a> and Bairro Maravilha<\/a> programs throughout the city; implementing improvements in 20,000 homes identified by the Casa Carioca<\/a> program, for families in socially vulnerable situations; and launching the HUB Favela Empreendedora program, which aims to boost entrepreneurism in Rio\u2019s favelas. Eduardo Paes is still remembered by many as the \u201cmayor of evictions<\/a>,\u201d in reference to the 80,000 forced evictions carried out in preparation for the 2014 World Cup<\/a> and the 2016 Olympics<\/a> during his first two administrations. In addition to the Social Democratic Party (PSD<\/a>), the political parties supporting Paes are: Agir<\/a>, Avante<\/a>, Christian Democracy<\/a>, PCdoB<\/a>, PDT<\/a>, Podemos<\/a>, PRD<\/a>, PSB<\/a>, PT<\/a>, PV<\/a>, and Solidarity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alexandre Ramagem (PL)<\/h3>\n
\"Alexandre<\/a>
Alexandre Ramagem. Photo: Marcos Oliveira\/ Ag\u00eancia Senado<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 22 \u2013 Campaign \u201cCourage to Change\u201d <\/strong>\u2014 Candidate campaign page not found.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alexandre Ramagem Rodrigues<\/a> (PL<\/a>), 52, also has a law degree from PUC-Rio<\/a>, and is a former chief of the Federal Police (PF<\/a>), a position he held until 2019. In 2018, Ramagem was appointed to lead Jair Bolsonaro<\/a>\u2019s personal security team. He was the general director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN<\/a>) during the Bolsonaro administration and is currently a federal deputy representing Rio de Janeiro. Ramagem lives in a housing complex in Barra da Tijuca<\/a>, in Rio\u2019s West Zone<\/a>. His residence was targeted by search and seizure warrants<\/a> issued by Judge Alexandre de Moraes<\/a>, of the Supreme Court (STF<\/a>), in January of this year, as part of an investigation into the illegal surveillance of opponents and authorities<\/a> during the time he served as director of ABIN.<\/p>\n

Alexandre Ramagem, an ally of former president Jair Bolsonaro, is proposing an administration focused on public safety, with zero tolerance policies for crime. His ideas include using smart cameras to monitor vehicles and individuals in real time, allowing the Municipal Guard to carry firearms, and implementing (unspecified) initiatives to prevent disasters and improve the city\u2019s housing conditions. Ramagem also claims to be committed to land tenure and titling programs, proposing the relocation of residents from vulnerable areas to new housing<\/a>. In addition to the Liberal Party (PL), Ramagem’s candidacy is supported by the MDB<\/a> and the Republicans<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tarc\u00edsio Motta (PSOL)<\/h3>\n
\"Tarc\u00edsio<\/a>
Tarc\u00edsio Motta. Photo: Will Shutter \/ Chamber of Deputies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 50 \u2013 Campaign \u201cRio deserves more<\/a>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tarc\u00edsio Motta<\/a>, 49, is a history professor from Petr\u00f3polis<\/a>, a city in Rio de Janeiro\u2019s mountainous region<\/a>. He taught public school at Col\u00e9gio Pedro II and served as director of the Duque de Caxias<\/a> branch of the State Union of Education Professionals (Sepe<\/a>) in Greater Rio<\/a>‘s Baixada Fluminense<\/a> region, later becoming the union\u2019s state director from 2006 to 2012. He currently serves as federal deputy for Rio de Janeiro. Before that, he was a two-term city councilmember in Rio de Janeiro for the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL<\/a>), being the most voted councilmember in 2020. He participated in the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI<\/a>) on Buses<\/a>, where he criticized the government\u2019s and other councilmembers\u2019 lack of commitment to investigating irregularities in the system. He also presided over the CPI on Flooding<\/a>, denouncing the municipal administration\u2019s insufficient investment in flood prevention. Tarc\u00edsio Motta\u2019s running mate for deputy mayor will be Renata Souza<\/a>, an Afro-Brazilian state deputy originally from the Mar\u00e9 favelas, currently serving her second term.<\/p>\n

As an opponent of the current administration, Tarc\u00edsio Motta centers his proposals on social inclusion and fighting inequality. He advocates for urban mobility policies that prioritize the accessibility and quality of public transportation, such as zero fare on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to promote right to the city<\/a> and leisure. He proposes programs to improve housing conditions in favelas, including increasing the amount of social rent<\/a> from R$400 (US$73) to R$900 (US$165). The candidate also proposes the construction of 50,000 homes<\/a>, 25,000 of which would be affordable homes in the Port Region<\/a>, along with expanding conditional cash transfer programs such as Bolsa Fam\u00edlia and implementing solidarity kitchens. He further supports dismantling black markets for weapons, land, and urban services. One of his key proposals<\/a> is protection against floods, which directly affects residents of peripheral areas and favelas. As a federal deputy, he filed a Proposed Constitutional Amendment (PEC) to create a Unified Socio-Environmental Prevention System<\/a>. His other proposals include increased investment in public health and education, with a focus on expanding full-time schools and daycare, creating 27 new government-run popular restaurants, and restructuring the Municipal Guard\u2019s shifts. In addition to PSOL, Motta\u2019s coalition is supported by the PCB<\/a> and REDE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cyro Garcia (PSTU)<\/h3>\n
\"Cyro<\/a>
Cyro Garcia. Photo: Fabio Rossi \/ Ag\u00eancia O Globo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 16 \u2013 Campaign \u201cAgainst the bourgeois, vote 16!<\/b>\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 Candidate campaign page not found.<\/p>\n

Cyro Garcia<\/a> is a veteran political activist and a member of the Unified Socialist Workers’ Party (PSTU<\/a>). Born in Manhumirim, Minas Gerais<\/a>, he is 69 years old, holds a degree in History, and is a former bank employee. He is known for his long history of fighting for workers\u2019 rights and against social injustice. Garcia served as a federal deputy from 1992 to 2000<\/a> and is one of the leading figures in the PSTU in the state of Rio de Janeiro. He has run for office several times, always with a platform centered on socialism and the defense of the working class.<\/p>\n

In his campaign, Cyro Garcia advocates for a series of proposals aimed at radically transforming society. His key proposals include refusing to pay the public debt and reallocating those resources to investments in health, education, and housing. He supports the fight to end police operations in favelas, the inclusion of environmental education<\/a> in the municipal school curriculum, and a housing plan focused primarily on residents of favelas and peripheral areas, with the construction of affordable housing, land tenure, and the implementation of public facilities and services.<\/p>\n

Rodrigo Amorim (Uni\u00e3o Brasil)<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Rodrigo<\/a>
Rodrigo Amorim. Photo: Reproduction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 44 \u2013 Campaign \u00a0\u201cStrength to change<\/a>\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rodrigo Amorim<\/a>, 46, hailing from Tijuca<\/a> in the city’s North Zone, is a lawyer and state deputy for Rio de Janeiro. Affiliated with Uni\u00e3o Brasil<\/a>, he rose to prominence as the most voted deputy in the state<\/a> during the 2018 elections. Known for his conservative stance, Amorim is a proponent of law and order agendas. In 2018, he became notorious for smashing a plaque in honor<\/a> of Councilmember Marielle Franco<\/a> alongside the now-imprisoned<\/a> former deputy Daniel Silveira<\/a> and impeached former governor<\/a> Wilson Witzel. It is important to recall that Marielle Franco\u2014a sociologist, parliamentarian, human rights activist, mother, Black woman, and native of Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>\u2014had been the victim of political femicide<\/a> only seven months prior to this regrettable episode of disrespect. According to investigations by the Federal Police (PF), her assassination was orchestrated by individuals within the State due to her work advocating for housing rights<\/a>. The murderers include Domingos Braz\u00e3o<\/a>, a member of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Auditors (TCE-RJ<\/a>), identified as the mastermind behind the political femicide; Chiquinho Braz\u00e3o<\/a>, a federal deputy from the same party as Rodrigo Amorim and Domingos’ brother, accused of financing the murder; Rivaldo Barbosa<\/a>, Rio de Janeiro\u2019s former Chief of Civil Police<\/a>, who allegedly helped plan the assassination and obstructed investigations<\/a>; as well as military police officers Ronnie Lessa and \u00c9lcio Queiroz<\/a>, who are accused of being the executors of Marielle and Anderson Gomes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rodrigo Amorim\u2019s connection to police incidents doesn\u2019t end there. At the beginning of 2023, it came to light that an official car from the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (ALERJ<\/a>), assigned to Amorim, was used criminally<\/a> in coup-related acts<\/a>. Additionally, in August 2022, the Regional Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro (TRE-RJ) accepted a complaint from the Electoral Public Prosecutor’s Office<\/a>, making Amorim a defendant on charges of transphobia<\/a>. In May 2024, Rodrigo Amorim was convicted<\/a> of political gender violence against Councilmember Benny Briolly<\/a>, Niter\u00f3i\u2019s first trans parliamentarian. The mayoral candidate has stated he will appeal. Due to the transphobia conviction, his candidacy was initially rejected; however, the sentence was overturned<\/a> after an appeal argued that his ineligibility should only be enforced after the appeals process was concluded, a request that was granted by TRE-RJ. Back on the campaign trail, Rodrigo Amorim has defended controversial public security proposals, such as expanding access to firearms for citizens and the Municipal Guard, as well as reforming the prison system. However, it is important to note that none of these fall under the mayor’s jurisdiction: gun control is regulated at the national level, arming the Municipal Guard is a decision for the city council, and the prison system is the responsibility of the state government. In addition to Uni\u00e3o Brasil, the National Mobilization<\/a> party also supports Amorim\u2019s candidacy.<\/p>\n

Juliete Pantoja (UP)<\/h3>\n
\"Juliete<\/a>
Juliete Pantoja. Photo: Eduardo Uzal \/ Ag\u00eancia O Dia<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 80<\/strong> \u2014 Candidate campaign page not found.<\/p>\n

Juliete Pantoja<\/a>, 34, was born in Duque de Caxias<\/a>, a municipality in Greater Rio de Janeiro’s Baixada Fluminense<\/a> region. A social activist and educator, she gained notoriety for her work in grassroots movements, especially the Movement for the Fight for Neighborhoods, Villages, and Favelas (MLB<\/a>). Affiliated with the Popular Unity (UP<\/a>) party, Pantoja has a history of activism defending minority rights and fighting against social inequality. She is running for public office for the third time, having previously run in the 2012 and 2020 elections. She is recognized for her advocacy of quality public education and access to adequate housing for all.<\/p>\n

In her campaign, Juliete Pantoja presents proposals focused on expanding social rights and reducing inequalities. According to the candidate, her government program \u201cis committed to the workers\u2019 struggle.\u201d She advocates for massive investment in education, the institutionalization of community power, participatory budgeting built through local councils, and the replacement of sub-prefectures with local councils. She is also focused on human rights and fighting racism, proposing the creation of the \u201cBlack Youth Alive\u201d program. Among her proposals are the establishment of subsidized restaurants, community kitchens, collective laundromats, daycares, and social assistance for working women.<\/p>\n

Marcelo Queiroz (PP)<\/h3>\n
\"Marcelo<\/a>
Marcelo Queiroz. Photo: Chamber of Deputies<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 11 \u2013 Campaign \u00a0\u201cRio has options<\/span><\/a>\u201d<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

Marcelo Queiroz<\/a>, 39, is a lawyer affiliated with the Progressive Party (PP<\/a>). He served as environment secretary<\/a> under former mayor Marcelo Crivella<\/a> in 2019, and later as state agriculture secretary<\/a> in Wilson Witzel<\/a>\u2019s administration, where he remained until 2022. That same year, he was elected federal deputy for Rio de Janeiro. Among his achievements is the creation of RJPET<\/a>, the first state public policy focused on pets, which has become the largest animal neutering program in Brazil.<\/p>\n

Queiroz promotes himself as a candidate of the so-called third way, distancing himself from political polarization, despite having been part of the Bolsonaro government base in Congress<\/a> and serving as a secretary under Crivella and Witzel. The candidate proposes<\/a> investing R$100 million (~US$18.5 million) in the installation of cameras to strengthen intelligence planning in public security. He also plans to review the outsourcing of civil servants in essential sectors such as health and education. For early childhood education, he suggests securing spots in private daycares while new public facilities are currently under construction. In terms of housing, he plans to rebuild homes in areas facing housing shortages through partnerships with construction companies, using land development rights exchanges. Marcelo Queiroz is supported by PSDB<\/a> and Cidadania<\/a> in addition to his own party.<\/p>\n

Carol Sponza (Novo)<\/h3>\n
\"Carol<\/a>
Carol Sponza. Photo: Partido Novo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 30<\/strong> \u2013 Campaign \u00a0<\/strong>\u201cRio doesn’t need any more cunning<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

Carol Sponza<\/a>, 45, is a lawyer with a master\u2019s degree in Public Policy and is affiliated with the New Party (NOVO<\/a>). Although she has run for both state and federal representative, she was not elected on either occasion. Known for her liberal positions, she advocates for the free market, transparency in public management, and the strengthening of oversight institutions. In the area of urban development and housing, she proposes the use of historic buildings for social housing, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP<\/a>s) for housing provision, the expansion of the Social Territories Program to Rio\u2019s favelas, and the modernization of licensing processes with a focus on simplification and digitalization.<\/p>\n

Henrique Simonard (PCO)<\/h3>\n
\"Henrique<\/a>
Henrique Simonard. Photo: Luiza Moraes\/ Ag\u00eancia O Globo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Candidate Number: 29 <\/strong>\u2014 Candidate campaign page not found.<\/p>\n

Affiliated with the Workers’ Cause Party (PCO<\/a>), Henrique Simonard<\/a>, 26, is a political activist who advocates for the rights of the working class, in alignment with the PCO\u2019s anti-capitalist stance. In his campaign, Simonard promotes radical proposals aimed at mobilizing the working class against the capitalist system. Among his key proposals are the nationalization of large companies and banks under workers\u2019 control, the expropriation of large rural estates for agrarian reform, and the creation of people\u2019s councils to manage the economy and politics. He also proposes halting the payment of public debt to redirect the budget toward social programs.<\/p>\n

\n

Support\u00a0RioOnWatch\u2019s tireless, critical and cutting-edge hyperlocal journalism, online community organizing meetings, and direct support to favelas\u00a0by clicking here<\/a>.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas In 2024, seven men and two women are running for mayor of Rio de Janeiro from nine of Brazil’s several dozen political parties. Only one male candidate self-identifies as Black, reflecting […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":245,"featured_media":79620,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1328,2242,335,3527],"tags":[1022,606,168,162,2231,479,272,397,381,595,385,26,3522,2449,2039,37,2219,3517,2223,2220,2817,2286,2241,2820,2221,2215,2217,2216,2040,149,3497,2218,2733,156,3435,2720,3518,21],"writer":[3529],"translator":[3655],"illustrator":[],"photographer":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-79619","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-by-community-contributors","8":"category-democracy","9":"category-policies","10":"category-representation","11":"tag-bairro-maravilha","12":"tag-brt","13":"tag-centro","14":"tag-city-council","15":"tag-cyro-garcia","16":"tag-democracy","17":"tag-mayor-eduardo-paes","18":"tag-education","19":"tag-electioneering","20":"tag-elections","21":"tag-environmental-education","22":"tag-housing-rights","23":"tag-juliete-pantoja","24":"tag-marielle-franco","25":"tag-pmdb","26":"tag-north-zone","27":"tag-novo","28":"tag-pcb-brazilian-communist-party","29":"tag-pcdob","30":"tag-pco","31":"tag-pdt","32":"tag-pl","33":"tag-pp","34":"tag-psb","35":"tag-psd","36":"tag-psdb","37":"tag-psol","38":"tag-pstu","39":"tag-pt","40":"tag-public-private-partnership","41":"tag-pv-green-party","42":"tag-rede","43":"tag-renata-souza","44":"tag-south-zone","45":"tag-structural-racism","46":"tag-tarcisio-motta","47":"tag-uniao-brasil-political-party","48":"tag-west-zone","49":"writer-janaina-tavares","50":"translator-vasti-cruz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/245"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=79619"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79619\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79704,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79619\/revisions\/79704"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/79620"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=79619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=79619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=79619"},{"taxonomy":"writer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwriter&post=79619"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftranslator&post=79619"},{"taxonomy":"illustrator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fillustrator&post=79619"},{"taxonomy":"photographer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fphotographer&post=79619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}