Former minister and governor Ciro Gomes leads the race for the government of Ceará, according to a new Ipsos-Ipec poll [1].
The results signal a potential shift in leadership for the Brazilian state as an experienced political figure challenges the current administration.
The poll, released on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 [2], indicates that Gomes holds a significant lead in the first-round scenario. Depending on the reporting source, his support ranges from 44% [1] to 44.5% [11]. He is currently ahead of the incumbent governor, Elmano de Freitas, who holds between 33% [1] and 35.3% [11] of voter intention.
Other first-round data shows that eight percent of respondents gave unspecified other responses [3], while blank or null votes were estimated at seven percent [3].
In a simulated second-round runoff, the lead for Gomes persists. The data suggests Gomes would receive 49% of the vote compared to 41% for de Freitas [6]. In this scenario, five percent of voters are considered indecisive [9], and another five percent would cast blank or null votes [8].
The survey aims to gauge voter intentions as the 2026 election cycle progresses in Ceará [1]. The gap between the former governor and the incumbent suggests a competitive environment, though Gomes maintains a consistent lead across different data sets.
“Ciro Gomes leads the race for the government of Ceará”
The polling data suggests that Ciro Gomes has successfully leveraged his previous administrative experience to regain momentum with the electorate. If these trends hold, the incumbent Elmano de Freitas faces a difficult path to reelection, as Gomes maintains a lead in both a multi-candidate field and a head-to-head matchup.
