A CBN survey based on data from the Superior Electoral Court revealed that businessman, lawyer, military police officer, doctor, and merchant are the most common professions among candidates in the 2026 elections. Together, these groups represent almost 30% of all competitors. Businessmen lead the ranking with 2,615 candidates, followed by 1,709 lawyers, 578 military police officers, and 566 doctors.
The scenario is not new. Since 2002, all general elections have had lawyers, doctors, and businessmen at the top of the ranking of most represented professions. Merchants have also held a relevant role since the beginning of the century.
Political scientist Rodrigo Prando, a professor at Mackenzie Presbyterian University, explained that these professions manage to gain more social prestige to attract voters' attention. Additionally, they accumulate some type of power, whether financial, family-related, or knowledge of the laws.
