Braz. political sci. rev. (Online).2026;20(2):e0001.
‘You Got Blood from a Stone’: Political Trajectories and Challenges Faced by Black Women Candidates in Brazil’s 2020 Municipal Elections
DOI: 10.1590/1981-3821202600020001
Abstract
In 2020, according to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), women saw an increase in their participation in the electoral race for municipal legislatures. Similarly, the number of self-declared Black candidates also rose. Yet despite higher participation among both groups, and even with the support of affirmative action policies in that election cycle, we still observe a persistent pattern of underrepresentation of Black women. Existing scholarship shows that several variables shape the electoral participation of minoritized groups. Drawing on a qualitative approach, this article examines the trajectories and challenges faced by Black women candidates for city council in the 2020 elections, with the aim of identifying the key obstacles they themselves highlight as obstacles to their campaign development. In doing so, we seek to shed light on the dynamics that contribute to the continued underrepresentation of this group in Brazilian politics. Our research corpus consists of interviews conducted with Black women candidates in Brazil’s Northeast region. Overall, we identify key elements described by our interlocutors as central to the challenges they faced during the electoral process – factors that extend beyond campaign financing and include mental health, racial and gender-based violence, and limited familiarity with legal and electoral regulations, among others.
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