Brazilian presidential pre-candidates conducted a series of high-profile campaign activities this week through televised interviews and regional visits [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
These activities mark a critical phase in the 2026 election cycle, as candidates attempt to consolidate their bases and introduce their policy platforms to a national audience via Brazil's most-watched media outlets.
Renan Santos (PSB) appeared as the third interview in a Globo series on Wednesday [5]. This series features a total of six presidential candidates [4]. Earlier in the week, Romeu Zema (Novo) was the first candidate interviewed on Jornal Nacional on Sunday [4]. His appearance generated significant social media attention and praise for the interviewer [4].
Ronaldo Caiado (PSD) also appeared on Jornal Nacional on Monday [3]. Following the interview, columnists provided evaluations of the former governor's performance [3].
Beyond the television studios, other candidates focused on direct outreach. Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) visited the state of Alagoas on Monday to promote investment in tourism [2]. Meanwhile, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) held a series of meetings at the Palácio [1].
These efforts follow a coordinated day of activity for pre-candidates that occurred on July 23 [1]. The candidates have used these various platforms to present policy proposals, and meet with supporters as the election approaches [1, 2, 3].
“Candidates utilize televised interviews and regional visits to reach voters.”
The strategic use of Jornal Nacional, Brazil's premier news program, indicates that candidates are prioritizing mass-market visibility to define their public personas before the official campaign period. By balancing these national media appearances with targeted regional visits, such as Bolsonaro's trip to Alagoas, the candidates are attempting to bridge the gap between broad national appeal and specific regional interests.
