Trans Candidate Sophia Barclay Becomes the Face of Right-Wing Party Election Campaign in Brazil

The Brazilian Liberal Party (PL), representing the right-wing political spectrum, has launched a television advertising campaign in São Paulo featuring conservative women, among whom is transgender candidate Sophia Barclay. As reported by the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper on September 5, 2026 , the 25-year-old Barclay is running for federal deputy from former President Jair Bolsonaro’s camp.

Barclay openly positions herself as a “right-wing trans woman” and uses the slogan “The strongest anti-woke voice in Brazil” in her election campaign. Her main political statements include ending state funding for LGBT parades and fighting what she calls “gender ideology” in schools. She previously gained prominence as a social media influencer and faced criticism for being listed as a recipient of federal subsidies while simultaneously speaking out against social programs.

Sophia Barclay’s participation in the elections representing the Liberal Party (PL) is a rare example of a trans person consciously building her political identity within the right-wing and anti-woke movement. In the party’s television commercials, she appears alongside other conservative female candidates, aiming to attract the votes of the right-wing electorate in São Paulo.