By Ronald Nogueira
The race for the Senate seat in Rio, opened after former governor Cláudio Castro dropped out last week, will have a symbolic chapter outside the state this Thursday. Federal deputies Sóstenes Cavalcante and Carlos Jordy, as well as Senator Carlos Portinho, are expected to participate in the March for Jesus in São Paulo, where Senator and presidential pre-candidate Flávio Bolsonaro will also be present. Their presence at the event comes amidst the maneuvering for the Senate seat.
With uncertainty surrounding who will have the political qualifications to represent the group in 2026, the March for Jesus has become a kind of strategic showcase for the three, who seek to strengthen ties with the evangelical electorate and demonstrate their closeness to Jair Bolsonaro's son.
The movement gains relevance because the decision on who will run in Rio will come from Flávio and Jair Bolsonaro. Although Sóstenes, Jordy, and Portinho belong to the same political camp, the competition for the preference of Bolsonaro's electorate and for the eventual endorsement of Flávio Bolsonaro is likely to intensify in the coming months, as the 2026 election calendar approaches.
Behind the scenes, Sóstenes is seen as a strong contender, precisely because he belongs to the Church. However, he faces resistance from Pastor Silas Malafaia in entering the race. Jordy would be competitive for defending the most radical positions of so-called "hardcore Bolsonarism." Portinho, on the other hand, is mentioned because he is already a senator and wants to remain in that position.
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