Senator Eduardo Girão to Run as Zema's Vice Presidential Candidate

Senator Eduardo Girão, a member of the Novo party, has been announced as the vice presidential running mate for Romeu Zema, the party's presidential candidate. This decision follows extensive discussions between Zema, Girão, and national party leadership. Girão is expected to withdraw his candidacy for governor of Ceará, which he launched in early July, to join Zema's ticket. The selection creates a presidential ticket composed entirely of Novo party members. Previously, other individuals were considered for the vice presidential role. Tiago Mitraud was a possibility but was instead chosen to run for governor of Minas Gerais. Businessman Geraldo Rufino was also mentioned by Zema but decided to run for the Senate in São Paulo. Girão's political alignment with Zema began before the presidential campaign. He was elected senator for Ceará in 2018 and has since moved between parties, eventually joining Novo in February 2023, becoming the party's first senator. Upon joining Novo, Girão praised Zema's governorship in Minas Gerais, citing austerity, management capacity, and transparency. He has since advocated for Zema as a key national leader within the Novo party. Girão also defended Zema against accusations of anti-Northeast sentiment, emphasizing Zema's respect for the region. In July 2026, Zema supported Girão's pre-candidacy for governor of Ceará, with both criticizing the PT and advocating for public administration reforms. Girão, born in Fortaleza in 1972, has a background in business, including hospitality, private security, and audiovisual production. He also founded a social projects association and presided over the Fortaleza Esporte Clube. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Fortaleza in 2024. In the Senate, Girão has authored legislation establishing the National Day of Spiritism and prohibiting the production and sale of food from force-fed animals. He has also proposed measures for public spending control and efficiency in budget execution. His amendments have influenced proposals on electoral reform and the expansion of the CPI da Covid. Economically, Girão supports reducing state size, cutting public positions, controlling expenses, and lowering taxes. He opposes abortion decriminalization, recreational drug legalization, and gambling. He has also been critical of the Supreme Court and supported impeachment requests against its ministers, advocating for amnesty for those involved in the January 8, 2023 events. No ongoing criminal investigations against the senator are publicly registered.