Douglas Ruas wins Rio governorship after TSE voids Garotinho votes

Douglas Ruas (PL) was confirmed as Rio de Janeiro's governor-elect on Saturday after the Regional Electoral Court (TRE-RJ) finalized a vote recount ordered by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). The TSE had annulled 274,411 votes cast for Anthony Garotinho (Republicanos), whose candidacy registration was rejected. Ruas's share of valid votes rose from 49.27% to 50.88%, granting him an outright majority and avoiding a runoff against former Rio mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD), who declined to appeal.

At 37, Ruas becomes the youngest person elected governor of Rio since 1959. A career civil police inspector and lawyer, he is the son of Capitão Nelson (PL), the mayor of São Gonçalo. Ruas served as state Secretary of Cities under Governor Cláudio Castro (PL) from September 2023 to March 2026 and was elected president of the Legislative Assembly (Alerj) in March 2024 after his predecessor, Rodrigo Bacellar, was removed from office.

“Ruas denies irregularities and sustains that another procedure on the same facts was archived.”

His running mate, Fernanda Louback (PL), is a former actress and beauty queen who advocates for disability rights. Ruas's flagship security plan, "Escudo Fluminense," proposes retaking territory from militias and drug factions, deploying facial recognition and drones, and isolating crime bosses in maximum-security prisons. He also pledges to expand the Military Police force from 44,000 to 60,000 officers.

Ruas faces ongoing investigations by the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office into alleged embezzlement, money laundering, and criminal organization. Prosecutors are examining the asset growth of companies linked to Ruas and his father, including Saur Construção, which moved over R$12 million in real estate between 2023 and 2025. An audit of the Cities Secretariat during Ruas's tenure identified R$702 million in contracts with consortia led by FP Vieira Engenharia, some involving subcontractors tied to federal deputy Altineu Côrtes (PL), a key Ruas ally. Ruas denies wrongdoing, stating a prior probe on the same facts was archived.