Federal Deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG), who received 3.1 million votes to become Brazil's most-voted congressman in the 2026 election, has launched a six-state tour of the Northeast to bolster Flávio Bolsonaro's (PL) presidential runoff campaign. The tour began Saturday, October 17, with events in Salvador and Teresina, and continues through Aracaju, São Luís, Recife, and Fortaleza before the second-round vote.
PL strategists acknowledge that the Northeast remains former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's (PT) strongest region. However, they argue that reducing the margin of defeat — even without flipping the region — could prove decisive in a tight national race. "Every vote counts," party leaders told the Coluna do Estadão.
Starting in Bahia
The tour opened in Salvador, Bahia's capital and Brazil's fourth-largest voting district. Flávio Bolsonaro appeared alongside ACM Neto (União Brasil), who lost the Bahia gubernatorial race in the first round but outperformed the reelected Governor Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT) in the capital. Neto received 769,700 votes in Salvador against Rodrigues' 630,600. Flávio Bolsonaro garnered approximately 391,000 votes in the city, leaving room to capture voters who backed Neto.
Salvador also carries symbolic weight for Ferreira. During the campaign, First Lady Rosângela "Janja" da Silva referred to him as a "piá de bosta" — a derogatory southern Brazilian slur. Ferreira has since embraced the insult at rallies, greeting supporters as "piás" to enthusiastic response.
Maranhão and the Lahesio Bonfim Factor
On Wednesday, October 21, Ferreira travels to Maranhão, where Lula won 63.99% of first-round votes against Flávio's 30.90%. The campaign hopes to leverage the Senate victory of Lahesio Bonfim (Novo), who defeated established figures including former Governor Roseana Sarney (MDB) and incumbent Senators Weverton Rocha (PDT) and Eliziane Gama (PT). Bonfim has declared support for Flávio Bolsonaro in the runoff.
Maranhão's newly reelected Governor Eduardo Braide (PSD) maintained neutrality during the first round. His party colleague, Goiás Governor Ronaldo Caiado, has endorsed Flávio Bolsonaro for the second round.
Final Stretch
Ferreira will close the tour with events in Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro on the eve of the runoff. The deputy requested the northeastern tour himself, surprising PL leaders who questioned why a Minas Gerais-based politician would campaign in a region where his party has minimal infrastructure. They ultimately deferred to his judgment.