PT Vice-President Invites Influencers to Join 2026 Election Race, Aiming to Revitalize Left Politics
The PT's vice-president invites prominent social media influencers to run as candidates in Brazil’s 2026 elections, reflecting efforts to diversify and modernize the left-wing political landscape.
- • Washington Quaquá invited influencer Chico Moedas to run for office in 2026.
- • The invitation stems from a podcast conversation including Jones Manoel, addressing the left's future.
- • Chico Moedas and Jones Manoel have millions of followers, symbolizing a new political engagement approach.
- • The PT aims to broaden political participation and include diverse, younger voices on the left.
Key details
Washington Quaquá, vice-president of Brazil's Workers' Party (PT) and mayor of Maricá, Rio de Janeiro, has formally invited social media influencer Chico Moedas to run as a candidate in the 2026 elections. Quaquá described this invitation as a serious initiative to refresh political engagement and broaden representation within the left. The offer grew from a discussion held during a late October podcast featuring Chico Moedas and fellow influencer Jones Manoel, both of whom have substantial social media followings — Moedas with 2.1 million followers and Manoel with over 1.7 million. During the podcast, they debated Brazil's left-wing political future and related topics, including a recent government operation against the Comando Vermelho criminal group.
Quaquá emphasized politics must become more inclusive to better represent diverse voices, encouraging the left to expand its reach beyond traditional boundaries. He expressed interest in hosting the influencers in Maricá to showcase progressive initiatives underway there. Known for his connections with popular YouTuber Casimiro and for his cryptocurrency ventures, Moedas also gained public attention through his previous relationship with singer Luísa Sonza. This engagement signals a trend within PT toward integrating younger, digitally influential figures into formal political roles, aiming to modernize the party’s appeal and voter base ahead of the 2026 electoral cycle.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.