A new Quaest poll shows Benedita leading the race for the Rio de Janeiro Senate seat with 10% of voter support [4].
The results highlight a highly fragmented electorate where no single candidate has established a dominant lead. This lack of a front-runner suggests a volatile campaign environment as candidates vie for a narrow margin of undecided voters.
The survey, conducted between Aug. 21 and Aug. 24, included 1,302 respondents [1]. It carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points [2] and a confidence level of 95% [3]. The poll is registered with the TSE under number RJ-08748/2026 [9].
Following Benedita, Carlos Jordy holds seven percent support [5], while Marcelo Crivella follows with six percent [6]. Monica Benicio and Carlos Portinho are currently tied, each holding five percent of the voter intention [7, 8].
The distribution of support indicates a technical tie among the top candidates given the margin of error. The data suggests that the majority of voters in the state of Rio de Janeiro remain undecided, or are supporting candidates not listed in the top five.
Researchers from the Quaest institute published these findings on Aug. 25 to measure voter intentions ahead of the upcoming Senate elections [1, 4]. The narrow gaps between the leading candidates mean that small shifts in public opinion could significantly alter the standings before the election day.
“Benedita leading the race for the Rio de Janeiro Senate seat with 10% of voter support”
The current polling data reveals a wide opening for any candidate to capture the lead, as the top five contenders are separated by only five percentage points. With the leading candidate holding only 10% of the vote, the race is essentially an open field, making the Rio de Janeiro Senate seat one of the most unpredictable contests in the current election cycle.
