By MAYRA GOULART and GIULIA GOUVEIA*
An analysis of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The 2024 election was the most financially robust in history, driven by significant public resources distributed among a reduced number of candidates and parties, a result of the reduction in the list of candidates imposed by electoral legislation. These resources, largely directed to already established candidates with considerable personal assets, given that almost half of the amount was allocated to 0,27% of candidates with assets above R$485 thousand, made it difficult for new competitors to enter. The election was not marked by speeches of renewal, but by the reaffirmation of figures already consolidated in their respective regions. The “new politics” is no longer so new.
The new rules highlighted the central role played by municipalities and their leaders in reshaping the national political scene, where mayors, city council members and deputies have taken greater control over the resources of the National Treasury. The mandatory budget and the threshold clause – which requires a minimum number of federal deputies and senators to guarantee access to the Special Campaign Financing Fund (FEFC), set at R$4,9 billion this year – significantly increased the influence of these actors. In particular, deputies stood out as campaign workers and organizers of their respective parties’ nominations.
In this sense, when mentioning electoral financing, it is imperative to reflect on it from the perspective of gender and race. Thus, at the national level, the 2024 elections recorded the following rates of female candidacies: 152.946 (35,40%) for city council, 2.381 (15,29%) for mayor, and 3.678 (23,25%) for vice mayor. In 2020, in turn, the following numbers were observed: 180.216 (34,76%) female candidacies for city council, 2.602 (13,43%) for mayor, and 4.203 (21,21%) for vice mayor. These data represent a small percentage increase compared to the 2020 elections, although the absolute numbers decreased for both genders.
Considering this, it is important to consider that the study organized by Marcus Vinícius Chevitarese Alves, Thamara, Dutra Ribeiro and David Mercado Fautino for the National Observatory of Women in Politics (ONMP) revealed that, in 772 municipalities (13,9%), at least one party or federation did not comply with the gender quota. Compared to 2020, when 1.304 municipalities failed to comply with the legislation, there was an improvement, but the number of parties that continue to violate the rule in two or more municipalities is still considerable.
Among the states, in terms of city council candidates, Rio de Janeiro had the lowest participation of women, with 34,29% of candidates, while Mato Grosso do Sul had the highest proportion, with 36,48%. Female participation in candidates varied between 34% and 36% in the other states. In view of this, it is crucial to analyze the electoral data in the state of Rio de Janeiro, carrying out a comparative analysis with the 2020 elections based on gender and race markers.
Candidacies for councilor in the state
A priori, it is possible to observe that there was a significant drop in the absolute number of candidacies, from 8.626 in 2020 to 5.767 in 2024. However, an analysis of the proportional numbers reveals that the percentage of female and male candidacies remained practically stable between the two periods, with a slight increase in the percentage of women (from 34,08% to 34,30%).
Also, in 2024, there were no candidacies classified as “non-disclosable”, unlike in 2020, when 0,19% were in this category. This can be explained by the inclusion of the “gender identity” category, in which the candidate can inform whether they are cisgender, transgender, non-binary, choose not to disclose or not to inform.
This year, the vast majority of female and male candidates identified as cisgender, with very similar percentages between the two genders (77,37% among women and 77,67% among men). A significant portion of candidates preferred not to disclose their gender identity (21,94% among women and 22,31% among men). Finally, there are 40 transgender female candidates (0,69%) and 3 transgender male candidates (0,03%).
When including race in this analysis, it is observed that the proportion of white female candidates decreased from 49,72% in 2020 to 46,97% in 2024. In turn, the percentage of black female candidates increased from 19,07% in 2020 to 22,40% in 2024, as well as brown female candidates, from 28,68% in 2020 to 29,89% in 2024.
Among men, the proportion of white male candidates increased slightly, from 48,39% in 2020 to 49,17% in 2024. Black male candidates remained stable, with a slight variation (16,79% in 2020 and 16,83% in 2024). Finally, the percentage of mixed-race male candidates also increased slightly, from 32,23% in 2020 to 33,38% in 2024. Furthermore, for both men and women, the number of candidates who did not report their race fell in 2024, from 2,21% to 0,33% among women and from 2,32% to 0,33% among men. Finally, indigenous and yellow representation remained low in both years, with small numerical variations.
Candidates for mayor in the state
Between 2020 and 2024, there was a decrease in the total number of candidacies, which fell from 603 to 382, representing a significant reduction. However, despite this overall decrease, the proportion of women increased from 15,42% in 2020 to 17,28% in 2024, signaling a slight increase in female representation. In contrast, the proportion of men remained practically stable, falling from 83,42% in 2020 to 82,20% in 2024, while the category of those who chose not to disclose their gender decreased, from 1,16% in 2020 to 0,52% in 2024, possibly indicating a greater willingness to reveal their gender identity, as signaled in the case of city council candidates.
Regarding the intersection of gender and race, the proportion of white women increased from 66,67% in 2020 to 68,18% in 2024. In contrast, the proportion of brown women decreased from 19,35% to 16,67% in the same period, while the proportion of black women saw a slight increase, from 12,90% to 13,64%. Only 1 woman declared herself indigenous in 2020 and 2024, equivalent to 1,08% and 1,52%, respectively. Finally, in both 2020 and 2024, none declared themselves yellow.
Among men, there was an increase in the proportion of white men, which rose from 72,17% to 75,16%, and a slight decrease in the proportion of brown men, from 19,68% to 16,88%. The proportion of black men remained almost unchanged, rising slightly from 7,16% to 7,96%. It is worth noting that the category of yellow and indigenous men, which had represented 0,60% and 0,20% of male candidacies in 2020, disappeared from the 2024 sample. Finally, in 2024, there was a reduction in the number of candidates of both genders who did not disclose their gender or race, compared to 2020.
Candidates for vice-mayor in the state
Between 2020 and 2024, the analysis of data on gender in vice-mayoral candidates in the state of Rio de Janeiro reveals a significant variation in the proportions of candidates identified as female, male and non-disclosable. In 2020, the total number of candidates was 624, of which 163 (26,12%) were women, 453 (72,60%) were men and 8 (1,28%) chose not to disclose their gender. In 2024, the total dropped to 387 candidates, with 113 women (29,20%), 273 men (70,54%) and only 1 person (0,26%) who did not disclose their gender. This change reflects a slight increase in the proportion of women. The number of candidates who chose not to disclose their gender also decreased significantly, from 8 in 2020 (1,28%) to 1 in 2024 (0,26%).
Regarding the distribution of gender and race, the 2020 data showed that, among women, 94 (57,67%) identified as white, 36 (22,09%) as brown, 30 (18,40%) as black, 1 (0,61%) as yellow, 2 (1,23%) did not report their race and no indigenous people were registered. Among men, 295 (65,12%) were white, 109 (24,06%) brown, 46 (10,15%) black, 1 (0,22%) indigenous, 2 (0,44%) did not report their race and no yellow people were registered.
In 2024, among women, 67 (59,29%) identified themselves as white, 25 (22,12%) as brown, 20 (17,70%) as black, and 1 (0,88%) as indigenous. In the male group, 177 (64,84%) were white, 76 (27,84%) were brown, 19 (6,96%) were black, and 1 (0,37%) did not disclose their race. Thus, the analysis shows stability in the representation of brown women, a reduction in the representation of black women, and an increase in the proportion of white women. Among men, the proportion of white and black candidates decreased – with a greater reduction in the category of black candidates –, while that of brown candidates increased slightly.
Councilors elected in the state
In 2020, 119 women (10,05%) and 1.065 men (89,95%) were elected. In 2024, 114 women (9,69%) and 1.063 men (90,31%) were elected. Therefore, it can be observed that there was a small reduction in the proportion of women and a slight increase in male participation, although candidacies increased, albeit timidly, from 34,08% in 2020 to 34,30% in 2024. This indicates a worsening of the political underrepresentation of women in the state.
Regarding the distribution of gender and race, in 2020, among women, 86 (72,27%) were white, 19 (15,97%) were brown, 8 (6,72%) were black, 1 (0,84%) were Asian, and 5 (4,20%) did not report their race. Among men, 696 (65,35%) were white, 271 (25,45%) were brown, 66 (6,20%) were black, 2 (0,19%) were Asian, 30 (2,82%) did not report their race, and no indigenous people were registered. In 2024, among women, 81 (71,05%) identified themselves as white, 17 (14,91%) as brown, and 16 (14,04%) as black, with no records of Asian, indigenous women, or women who did not report their race. In the male group, 710 (66,79%) were white, 270 (25,40%) were brown, 80 (7,53%) were black, 1 (0,09%) was yellow and 2 (0,19%) did not report their race.
These data show a slight reduction in the proportion of white and mixed-race women, but an increase in the number of black women. Among men, the proportion of white and black women increased slightly, while that of mixed-race women remained practically stable. The number of candidates who did not disclose their race fell significantly among men, which may indicate a reflection of the change in the rules for the use of campaign funds.
Mayors elected in the state
In 2020, 10 women were elected mayor, equivalent to about 12% of the total. In 2024, 13 women were elected, approximately 15%. Once again, the growth in women's political representation is timid.
Regarding the distribution of gender and race, in 2020, among women, 8 (80%) identified as white and 2 (20%) as brown. Among men, 68 were white, 9 were brown and 1 was black. In turn, in 2024, among women, 10 (76,92%) were white and 3 (23,08%) were brown. In the male group, to date, 65 (90,28%) men identified as white and 7 (9,72%) as brown, with no records of black men in this sample. These data indicate an increase in the proportion of white and brown women and a slight reduction in the proportion of white and brown men.
The absence of black men in 2024 contrasts with the presence, albeit insufficient, recorded in 2020 and reveals the persistence of racial inequality, especially when we consider that no black woman was elected as mayor in the state in the elections analyzed.
Deputy mayors elected in the state
In 2020, the vice-mayors were represented by 15 women (18,07%). In 2024, the total increased to 18 women (21,18%), revealing a timid growth and extremely far from gender equality. However, it is important to highlight that one more woman will certainly be elected, considering that in the city of Niterói, both tickets competing in the second round have women in the vice-mayor position.
Regarding the distribution of gender and race, in 2020, among women, 11 (73,33%) identified themselves as white, 2 (13,33%) as brown, and 2 (13,33%) as black. Among men, 56 were white, 14 were brown, 2 were black, and 1 did not report their race. In 2024, among women, 13 (72,22%) identified themselves as white, 4 (22,22%) as brown, and 1 (5,56%) as black. Among men, to date, 51 (76,12%) are white, 12 (17,91%) are brown, 3 (4,48%) are black, and 1 (1,49%) did not report their race.
Therefore, white women saw a minimal reduction in their number, while black women suffered a sharp reduction. The losses, in turn, expanded their representation. In the case of men, white and mixed-race vice-mayors saw a small reduction, while black women expanded their representation extremely timidly.
Final reflections
A priori, the data show that the 2024 municipal elections represented a discontinuity with the trend of national elections, which shows an increase in the number of women elected, even if still below a value that indicates gender equality, in each election. Thus, it can be seen that, although there was an extremely modest advance in the mayoral and deputy mayoral elections, in the case of the legislature, there was a regression. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the situation of women's political representation in the state of Rio de Janeiro reveals a scenario of stagnation, as shown in Graph 1, below:
Graph 1 - Elected by gender: 2020 x 2024
Furthermore, the political underrepresentation of women and black people remains significant, both in the number of candidates and in the electoral results, especially when we consider that the municipal elections in the state of Rio de Janeiro were not marked by major changes in the racial profile of those elected. Therefore, the analysis of this election reveals a political environment that, despite some small variations, remains largely dominated by traditional elites, and challenges persist in reducing gender and racial disparities.
*Mayra Goulart is a professor at the Department of Political Science at UFRJ.
*Giulia Gouveia is a PhD candidate in Social Sciences at UFRRJ.
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