Three Transgender Women Elected to Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, Erika Hilton Sets Historic Vote Record
On October 4, 2026, in Brazil’s general elections, 34-year-old Natal municipal councilwoman Thabatta Pimenta, running with the Green Party, was elected to the federal Chamber of Deputies representing the northeastern state of Rio Grande do Norte. She made history as the first transgender woman (travesti) from Brazil’s Northeast region elected to the National Congress, securing 92,743 votes (4.71% of valid ballots in the state).
According to a report by the American publication Washington Blade , when the new legislative term begins on February 1, 2027, Pimenta will join two sitting transgender federal deputies who both won re-election: Erika Hilton of São Paulo and Duda Salabert of Minas Gerais, both representing the left-wing Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL). Hilton achieved a historic electoral milestone by gathering 1,596,472 votes—the highest total ever received by any female congressional candidate in Brazilian history. In São Paulo state, Hilton placed second overall, trailing only right-wing Liberal Party candidate Lucas Pavanato, who drew over 3 million votes. Salabert was re-elected with 215,192 votes.
Civil society organization VoteLGBT, which tracked the campaign, reported that 529 openly LGBTQ+ candidates ran in the 2026 general elections, with more than 30 winning seats across federal and state levels. Openly bisexual figures (including Guilherme Cortez, Dandara Tonatzin, and Anielle Franco), gay candidates (such as re-elected federal deputy Fabio Félix and activist Rick Azevedo), and lesbian leaders (including Daiana Santos, Rosa Amorim, and Bella Gonçalves) also won election to the Chamber of Deputies. At the same time, several prominent LGBTQ+ figures fell short: gay senator Fabiano Contarato lost his re-election bid in Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro city councilwoman Mônica Benício failed to win a Senate seat, and former deputy Jean Wyllys was unsuccessful in his race in São Paulo.
At the state level, more than 20 openly LGBTQ+ candidates secured seats in legislative assemblies across the country. Among them was Workers’ Party member Natasha Ferreira, who became the first travesti elected to the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Sul. Overall election outcomes underscored deep ideological polarization in Brazil: in the presidential race, incumbent center-left President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing Liberal Party Senator Flávio Bolsonaro advanced to a runoff scheduled for October 25, 2026.
Born in the small municipality of Carnaúba dos Dantas, Thabatta Pimenta began her public work as a local radio host and advocate for people with disabilities while caring for her brother with cerebral palsy. In 2020, she was elected a city councilwoman in her hometown, and in 2024 she became the first trans woman elected to the municipal chamber of Natal, the state capital.
Previously, Urania reported extensively on more than 500 openly LGBT candidates competing in Brazil’s 2026 elections , highlighted legislative initiatives by Erika Hilton and Duda Salabert in Congress , and covered the assassination attempt survived by Salabert during an inspection in Minas Gerais .
