Find out which states will vote for governor in the second round

Brazil's 2026 gubernatorial election was largely settled in the first round. Twenty states elected their governors without needing another vote. The remaining contests moved to a second round, which will decide the governor where the first vote did not produce a winner under the electoral rules.

The five states are Acre, Amazonas, Espírito Santo, Rio Grande do Norte, and Tocantins. The Distrito Federal will also hold a gubernatorial runoff, although it is not considered a state. Together, these six jurisdictions make up the remaining contests.

The article highlights the scale of the result. Only five states and the Federal District were left undecided, compared with 20 states that had already chosen their governors. Voters in the six jurisdictions will therefore determine the final outcomes in the second round scheduled for October 25.

A second-round election, or runoff, is a new vote held after the first round when no candidate reaches the required majority. It usually involves only the two candidates who received the most votes. The purpose is to produce a clearer winner than a crowded first-round field might allow.

For example, in Acre, Ailza Assis led with 49.76%, while Alan Rick received 32.27%. Because neither candidate had secured the required majority, both advanced to another vote. In Rio Grande do Norte, the race was even closer: Allyson Bezerra had 36.94%, and Cadu de Lula had 36.16%.

The runoff gives voters a final choice between the leading candidates. It also creates time for endorsements and new alliances before voting resumes. In the article's 2026 results, only five states and the Distrito Federal required this second stage, while 20 states elected governors immediately.

The six runoffs involve two candidates in each jurisdiction. In Acre, Ailza Assis leads Alan Rick, 49.76% to 32.27%. Amazonas has Omar Aziz ahead of Maria do Carmo, 40.63% to 24.49%. Espírito Santo has Lorenzo Pazolini leading Ricardo Ferraço, 49.65% to 34.06%.

In Rio Grande do Norte, Allyson Bezerra leads Cadu de Lula by the narrowest margin, 36.94% to 36.16%. Tocantins features Professora Dorinha against Vicentinho Jr., with 45.52% and 43.94%, respectively. In the Distrito Federal, Celina Leão leads Leandro Grass, 49.93% to 34.47%.

The first-round leaders are therefore Ailza Assis, Omar Aziz, Lorenzo Pazolini, Allyson Bezerra, Professora Dorinha, and Celina Leão. The figures show very different contests, from near ties to leads of more than 16 percentage points. All six races still require a final vote.

The first-round races varied sharply in closeness. Rio Grande do Norte was almost tied, with Allyson Bezerra at 36.94% and Cadu de Lula at 36.16%, a difference of only 0.78 percentage points. Tocantins was also highly competitive, with Professora Dorinha leading Vicentinho Jr. by 1.58 points.

Ailza Assis led Alan Rick in Acre, 49.76% to 32.27%. Lorenzo Pazolini led Ricardo Ferraço in Espírito Santo, 49.65% to 34.06%. In Amazonas, Omar Aziz led Maria do Carmo, 40.63% to 24.49%. Celina Leão led Leandro Grass in the Distrito Federal, 49.93% to 34.47%.

Thus, Allyson Bezerra, Ailza Assis, Omar Aziz, Lorenzo Pazolini, Professora Dorinha, and Celina Leão entered their runoffs as leaders. However, each contest remained unresolved after the first vote and required a second round.

When no candidate wins the required majority in the first round, the election remains open. The leading candidate does not become governor automatically, even if that candidate finishes far ahead of the others. Instead, the top two compete again in a runoff.

Ailza Assis illustrates this process in Acre. She led with 49.76%, while Alan Rick received 32.27%. Her result was the strongest in the contest, but it still did not settle the election. Both candidates advanced to the second round, where voters would make the final choice.

The first-round lead can provide momentum, but it does not guarantee victory. Candidates may seek support from voters whose preferred contenders were eliminated, and political endorsements can matter. The article notes several alliances, including support for candidates linked to Flávio Bolsonaro or Lula. The final result therefore depends on the second vote, not merely the first-round ranking.

The article describes 2026 as a historic election because 20 states chose their governors in the first round. That surpassed the previous record from 2010, when 18 governors were elected immediately. The comparison shows how many contests were resolved without requiring a second vote.

The remaining cases were limited to five states and the Distrito Federal. Their first-round results did not settle the elections, so voters there must return to the polls on October 25. The article identifies Acre, Amazonas, Espírito Santo, Rio Grande do Norte, Tocantins, and the Distrito Federal as the unresolved jurisdictions.

This reveals a two-stage electoral design. A first round can select a governor directly when the result meets the required threshold. Otherwise, the leading candidates continue to a runoff. The 2026 figures show that most races ended at stage one, but the system preserves a final vote for contests without a decisive first-round majority.

In Brazil, a state governor heads the state executive branch. The governor administers state government, proposes and manages policies, and oversees areas such as public services, infrastructure, health, education, and public security. The office matters because state decisions affect daily life across an entire state.

A gubernatorial victory also changes the balance of political power. Governors work with state institutions and elected representatives to advance their agendas. They can build alliances with parties and national leaders, which may help coordinate policies or strengthen a political coalition. The article shows this dynamic through endorsements involving Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro.

The 2026 runoffs demonstrate why the office is contested closely. Omar Aziz received support from Lula, while Lorenzo Pazolini declared support for Flávio. In Tocantins, both candidates supported Flávio, but Flávio chose Professora Dorinha. The runoff therefore determines not only an administrator, but also which political alliance leads each state government.