A special election for the Brazilian Senate in Mato Grosso took place on 15 November 2020, to fill a vacancy in the Federal Senate through the end of the term ending on 1 February 2027, arising from the expelling of Selma Arruda from the upper house after a trial in the Superior Electoral Court.
History On 10 December 2019, the Superior Electoral Court considered valid the repeal of senator Selma Arruda term, along with her substitutes, elect in 2018. The former judge was accused of omitting expenses of R$ 1.2 million (US$ , as of 2018) in her electoral campaign to fill one of the two seats available and represent the state of Mato Grosso in the Senate, configuring supposed slush funds and abuse of economic power. It is necessary a bureaucratic act from the Senate Director Board to fulfill this decision. Selma Arruda could appeal to the Supreme Federal Court, but the appeal, at first, cannot suspend the TSE decision.
After the night of 12 March 2020, all the 12 candidacies were published and registered in the Regional Electoral Court of Mato Grosso.
Senator Selma was officially removed from the Senate on 15 April 2020. The 3rd place of the 2018 Senate election, Cárlos Favaro (PSD), temporarily took office as Senator. The election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Electoral process The election was disputed in a single round, with the most voted declared the winner of the election, regardless the vote percentage.
Candidates Party Candidate Most relevant political office or occupationParty Candidates for Alternate Senators Coalition Electoral number Workers' Party (PT) Valdir Barranco Member of the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso(since 2016) Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB)1st alternate senator:Maria Lúcia NederDefense of Life, Education, Land, Labour and Citizenship Workers' Party (PT) Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB)131 Workers' Party (PT)2nd alternate senator:Enelinda Scalla Podemos (PODE) José Medeiros Member of the Chamber of Deputies for Mato Grosso(since 2019) Podemos (PODE)1st alternate senator:Alexandre Agustin rowspan="2" 1912nd alternate senator:Zósima dos Santos Social Christian Party (PSC) Reinaldo Morais Entrepreneur and author Social Christian Party (PSC)1st alternate senator:Gilberto CattaniChange Mato Grosso Social Christian Party (PSC) Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB)2002nd alternate senator:Neles Farias Christian Democracy (DC) Elizeu Nascimento Member of the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso(since 2019) Social Liberal Party (PSL)1st alternate senator:Naime MoraesNow It's the People's Turn Christian Democracy (DC) Social Liberal Party (PSL)2702nd alternate senator:Marcio Paulo da Silva New Party (NOVO) Feliciano Azuaga Economist and university professor New Party (NOVO)1st alternate senator:Antônio Carlos Rezende rowspan="2" 3002nd alternate senator:Vanessa Tomizawa Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) Nilson Leitão Member of the Chamber of Deputies for Mato Grosso(2011–2019) Democrats (DEM)1st alternate senator:Júlio CamposMato Grosso as Whole Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) Democrats (DEM) Liberal Party (PL) Christian Labour Party (PTC)456 Liberal Party (PL)2nd alternate senator:José Márcio Guedes Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) Mauro César de Barros State prosecutor Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL)1st alternate senator:Gonçalina de Melo rowspan="2" 5002nd alternate senator:Wanderley da Guia Patriota Coronel Fernanda Colonel of the Mato Grosso Military Police Patriota1st alternate senator:Victório GalliMy Party is Brazil. Our Mission is Mato Grosso Patriota Republicanos5112nd alternate senator:Luciano Esteves Social Democratic Party (PSD) Carlos Fávaro Senator for Mato Grosso(since 2019) Progressistas (PP)1st alternate senator:Margareth BusettiDo More for Mato Grosso Social Democratic Party (PSD) Progressistas (PP) Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) Green Party (PV)555 Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB)2nd alternate senator:José Lacerda Avante Euclides Ribeiro Entrepreneur and lawyer Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB)1st alternate senator:Francileide FontinelleForward Mato Grosso Avante Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) Democratic Labour Party (PDT) Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) Sustainability Network (REDE)700 Democratic Labour Party (PDT)2nd alternate senator:Ernando Cardoso Solidariedade Pedro Taques Governor of Mato Grosso(2015–2019) Cidadania1st alternate senator:Fausto FreitasWe're All Mato Grosso Solidariedade Cidadania7772nd alternate senator:Elza Queiroz
Opinion polls Pollster/client(s) Date(s)conducted Samplesize Fávaro Leitão Taques Barros Siqueira Medeiros Nascimento Barranco Ribeiro Morais Azuaga Abst.Undec. Lead RealTime Big Data/CNN Brasil 7–10 Nov 850 20% 14% 14% 9% 7% 9% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 17% 6 RealTime Big Data/CNN Brasil 3–4 Nov 1,050 16% 13% 12% 8% 7% 7% 5% 4% 2% 1% 0% 25% 3% Ibope 30 Oct–2 Nov 812 13% 13% 13% 9% 8% 7% 5% 4% 2% 1% 0% 24% Tie Segmenta/Mega FM 16–20 Oct 1,012 23.17% 14.08% 11.23% 15.33% 13.19% 6.42% 8.02% 3.92% 1.07% 2.50% 0.89% – 7.84%
Results
References