Former state deputy Almir Rangel, 92, is the oldest candidate appearing on Brazil's electronic voting machines in this year's elections, according to official electoral records.
Data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), the supreme body overseeing Brazilian elections, confirms that the veteran politician is running for state deputy in Rio de Janeiro under the banner of the Avante party.
Born in February 1934 in the Campo Grande neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Rangel previously served two terms in the State Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) between 1990 and 1998.
Speaking to news outlet CNN, Rangel explained that his decision to re-enter political life was driven by a complete lack of political leadership in his home region, which he described as abandoned.
He said that despite his advanced age, he had never given up participating in the civic life of Rio de Janeiro and his local neighborhood. He noted that residents were orphaned of effective politicians, prompting his return to build upon his achievements from the 1990s in Campo Grande, a major district in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro city.
Campaign platform and circus background
The candidate's core message focuses on restoring a period of greater prosperity for the residents of Campo Grande, which serves as his primary electoral base.
Rangel recalled that during his previous tenure in office, local streets were vibrant and bustling. He actively organized community carnival events, street festivals, and holiday celebrations that brought Santa Claus to liven up Christmas for local families. He stated that he aims to reignite the district, adding that residents miss having a local representative who produces tangible results.
Despite being 92 years old, Rangel rejected the idea that his age presents an obstacle in the early stages of the election campaign. He attributed his ongoing physical stamina to his early career in the circus, where he performed as a trapeze artist and tightrope walker.
He mentioned that voters are frequently astonished to discover his age, noting that people rarely imagine he is past 90. On demanding campaign days, he spends time on the streets from 7 a.m. until midnight without suffering from exhaustion, though he acknowledged that his legs occasionally ache.
In addition to his two prior terms in the state assembly, Rangel has maintained a frequent presence in regional elections. He previously ran for Federal Deputy three times, in 2006, 2010, and 2018, as well as contesting a seat for state deputy in 2014 and seeking election as a Rio de Janeiro city councillor in 2016.
Other nonagenarian candidates in Brazilian elections
Rangel is not the only nonagenarian contesting office in the upcoming vote. Official TSE data shows that three other political candidates born in 1934 are also on the ballot.
Jorge Coutinho, born in September 1934, is the second-oldest candidate in the national race. Running for state deputy in Rio de Janeiro for the Christian Democracy (DC) party, Coutinho built a career as an actor, radio broadcaster, and director. His political resume includes previous candidacies for state deputy in 2010, Senate alternate in 2014, and vice-mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 2020.
The oldest woman competing in the election is Marlene Soccas, who was also born in September 1934. Representing Popular Unity (UP), Soccas is campaigning for a Senate seat in the state of Santa Catarina. A former dental surgeon, she previously ran for state governor in 2014 and historically participated in resistance movements against Brazil's military dictatorship, which governed the country from 1964 to 1985.
The most prominent nonagenarian in the race is Luiza Erundina, born in November 1934. Running for state deputy in São Paulo for the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), Erundina has been a prominent political figure since the 1980s and served five consecutive terms as a Federal Deputy in Brazil's National Congress between 2003 and 2026.
