(PL) published on Sunday (June 21, 2026) a video in which he uses the phrase “here I was reborn” to justify his pre-candidacy for the Senate for Santa Catarina. The former councilor of Rio de Janeiro, who served 9 terms in the City Council of the capital of Rio de Janeiro, resigned from his position at the end of 2025 to change his electoral domicile and compete for a seat in the southern state.
The pre-candidacy surprised part of the local political scene because Carlos does not have an electoral history in Santa Catarina. Since December 2025, he has maintained his electoral domicile in São José, a municipality in the metropolitan region of Florianópolis, fulfilling the legal requirement to run for the State.
Watch (2min14s):
“I know there are people who will say: ‘but Carlos wasn’t born in Santa Catarina’. I respect those who think like that. I wasn’t born here, but this is where I was reborn. I found peace, the generosity of a good people who defend the same values as me”he stated in the video posted on social media.
In the recording, Carlos also criticized the federal government and the Judiciary. Despite the electoral movement, the candidacy can only be made official after the party conventions and registration with the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), scheduled for August. Until then, he remains a pre-candidate.
PL voltage
The arrival of Carlos Bolsonaro started differences within the PL of Santa Catarina. The party controls the state government, has a seat in the Senate and has broad representation in the Legislative Assembly and the Chamber of Deputies.
To contain internal wear and tear, the legend chose to launch a “pure sheet metal” for the two Senate seats that will be up for grabs in the 2026 elections. Carlos will run alongside the federal deputy (PL-SC).
Before the definition, party leaders discussed a possible composition with Progressistas to include (PP-SC) on the plate. The alternative was abandoned after confirmation of Carlos’ pre-candidacy, who also announced support for Carol de Toni’s candidacy.
