Renan Santos, the Missão party candidate for the 2026 presidential election, has rejected all electoral alliances to maintain independence [1].
This strategy represents a significant departure from traditional Brazilian political norms, where candidates typically form broad coalitions to secure legislative support and funding. By eschewing these deals, Santos is attempting to build a grassroots movement that operates independently of established political machines.
Santos intends to field his own slates, known as palanques, in every one of Brazil's 27 states [1]. As part of this national expansion, the Missão party plans to run 450 candidates for federal and state deputy seats [1]. This scale of candidacy aims to establish a legislative foothold without relying on partner parties.
Funding for the ambitious campaign will also deviate from the standard process. Santos has refused to use the public electoral fund [2]. Instead, the campaign will rely on individual donor contributions, and online crowdfunding, to finance its operations [2].
Santos said that using his own slates and crowdfunding preserves the independence of his movement. He said this approach avoids dependence on coalition partners or the public fund [1, 2].
By controlling both the candidate list and the financial pipeline, the Missão party seeks to avoid the compromises often required by electoral pacts. The strategy places a heavy reliance on the ability of the campaign to mobilize small-dollar donors on a national scale to compete with better-funded opponents.
“Renan Santos rejected any electoral alliances”
Santos is attempting to disrupt the 'centrão' culture of Brazilian politics, where ideological purity is often traded for coalition stability. By rejecting public funds and alliances, he is betting that a digitally-funded, independent infrastructure can overcome the systemic advantages of established parties. The success of this model depends on whether a crowdfunding-based budget can realistically support 450 separate legislative races across 27 states.
