They ran for the first time in elections in 2018 and emerged victorious. on the anti-political wave and in support of Operation Lava Yato, which defeated traditional politicians in the states.

Three years after polling success, politicians who identify as supporters of the “new politics” are preparing to run in the new elections in 2022. In a dispute over state governments, they will test the political capital they have won.

Of the nine senators first elected to office in 2018, at least five are planning higher flights in their states. Two of them are from the bolsonarist field: Eduardo Girao (Pode) from Ceara and Soraya Tronic (PSL) from Mato Grosso do Sul.

Eduardo Girao, a businessman from the hotel and private security sectors, ran in his first election in 2018 and succeeded in overthrowing Senator Yunicio Oliveira (MDB), who was seeking re-election.

Over the past three years, he has managed to gain a foothold as one of the main protagonists of the opposition in Ceará, taking the place of parties like the MDB and PSDB, which have turned to Governor Camilo Santana (PT).

In the past few weeks, he has garnered a lot of attention on CPI Covid, where he defends President Jair Bolsonaro (no party).

In the commission, he pursues his main local opponents: the governor of PT and the former mayor of Fortaleza and the likely candidate for the government, Roberto Claudio (PDT). Its main flag is the fight against corruption.

To establish himself as a candidate for the government, Giraud is working to build a strong political group in Ceará. In 2020, the opposition performed well in major urban centers and won three of the five largest cities in Ceará.

The challenge now is to move forward in the smaller municipalities, as well as overcome the rejection by Jair Bolsonaro’s ally in the northeast.

Another name for the conservative field is Senator Soraya Tronica (PSL), who is to run for the government of Mato Grosso do Sul. A lawyer and businesswoman, she rose to prominence for her anti-PT street activities and reached the Senate in 2018 in the bolsonarist wave.

In 2022, she intends to run for government, backed by the same anti-corruption speech in which she launched her candidacy three years ago. He was in contact with small parties and is unlikely to receive the support of major local leaders.

“Unlike political colonels, I have no electoral corral. From the very beginning, I was focused on the welfare of the community, ”says the senator.

She says that this time she will have as a differential the larger PSL structure, which chose the second-largest bench in Congress in 2018 and will therefore have more TV time and campaign funding.

Elections in Mato Grosso do Sul should be divided into three poles: in addition to Senator Soraya Tronica, the government of Eduardo Ridel (PSDB), candidate for Governor Tucano Reinaldo Azambuja and Senator Simone Tebet (MDB) should also participate.

In Rio Grande do Norte, Senator Stevenson Valentim (Pode), who claims to be independent of Jair Bolsonaro’s government, is also a potential candidate for the state government.

A military policeman, Prohibition lightning events coordinator who has gained popularity thanks to videos on social networks. He was elected to the Senate in 2018, defeating traditional state politicians such as former Senator Garibaldi Alves (MDB).

IN sheet he says he has not yet decided whether he will be a candidate for the state government. “I am in the hands of God and people, I have no control over my future,” he says.

If he gets into an argument, he says he will ditch TV time and campaign resources to focus his campaign on social media. Its flags will be the safety and cost-cutting of the public car.

In Rio Grande do Norte, Stevenson is still isolated from other political forces in his state. He is not an ally of Governor Fatima Bezerra (PT), but he also does not have good influence between opposition names such as ministers Rogerio Marinho (no party) and Fabio Faria (SDP).

“I am open to anyone who wants to talk. But I feel that they are a little afraid to talk to me, because I record and film all the conversations, ”says the senator, who, even after three years in office, declares that he does not consider himself a politician.

In the area of ​​opposition to Bolsonaro, potential government candidates are Alessandro Vieira (citizenship) from Sergipe and Fabiano Contarato (Rede) from Espirito Santo.

Both were civilian police delegates before entering the Senate and gaining prominence at the CPI Covid. Despite a similar profile, they have different worldview paths.

Contarato was a supporter of Lava Jato, but today he strongly criticizes the operation. Earlier this month, he met in Brasilia with former President Lula, who invited him to join PT and challenge the Espiritu Santo government.

Vieira has a more conservative profile. He is a Lava Jato enthusiast and criticized the decision of the Federal Supreme Court, which held that former Judge Sergio Moro was partially involved in the proceedings against Lula.

In the Senate, he advocated the creation of a commission of inquiry in the highest courts, the CPI Lava Toga. In 2022, if you are a candidate for government, you should enter the Sergipe campaign criticizing the compadrio’s policies and anti-corruption motto.

Newcomers in 2018 also include potential Senate candidates, such as Sao Paulo State MP Janaina Pashoal (PSL).

Elected in 2018 with 2 million votes, the highest MP in the country’s history, she is running inside the PSL to run for a single Senate seat next year.

Another name is Vice President General Hamilton Mouran (PRTB), who is considering running for the Senate in Rio Grande do Sul.

According to political scientist Priscila Lapa, professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco, the elections in 2022 will be a kind of watershed for the chosen ones in the 2018 wave.

“If they want to be successful, they have to show a favor. They won’t be a replacement this time. Voters will be able to compare their work within the mandate and assess whether they have met expectations, ”he says.

The professor also says that, as in the 2020 municipal elections, voters should bet on candidates with a more experienced profile, reflecting the moment of a pandemic.

According to Priscila, research shows voters are worried about the future and are looking for a safe option. “Anyone who doesn’t make a little more sense can get left behind.”