# Rio Governor-Elect Wins After Electoral Court Voided Votes

> Rio's governor-elect Douglas Ruas wins first-round election after court voids 274,411 votes for rival Anthony Garotinho.
- Title: Rio Governor-Elect Wins After Electoral Court Voided Votes
- Summary: Rio's governor-elect Douglas Ruas wins first-round election after court voids 274,411 votes for rival Anthony Garotinho. Rio de Janeiro's governor-elect…
- Keywords: douglas ruas, liberal party, rio de janeiro, galeão airport, carnival 2027, rio open 2027, anthony garotinho, eduardo paes, tse, tre-rj, aena, liesa
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/rio-de-janeiro-news
- Author: Rafael Silva Santos
- Published: 2026-10-16T14:50:54+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: douglas ruas, liberal party, rio de janeiro, galeão airport, carnival 2027, rio open 2027, anthony garotinho, eduardo paes, tse, tre-rj, aena, liesa
## Rio Governor-Elect
Rio de Janeiro has a governor-elect, Douglas Ruas of the Liberal Party, after the electoral court voided votes for a rival and gave him a first-round win.
## Electoral Court Ruling
The city's regional court recounted votes on 10 October and put Douglas Ruas at 50.88% of valid votes, enough to win without a runoff.
## Rival Withdraws
Runner-up Eduardo Paes withdrew after Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin refused to overturn the ruling.
## Airport Management Change
Spain's airport operator Aena took over management of Rio's Galeão international airport on 6 October 2026.
## Airport Auction Details
It won the auction on 30 March with a bid of R$2.9 billion (about US$570 million), and the concession runs to 2039.
## Carnival 2027 Dates
Carnival 2027 starts with the lower-division Série Ouro schools on 5 and 6 February, followed by top-division Special Group parades on 7, 8 and 9 February.
## Carnival Ticket Prices
Grandstand tickets cost R$250 (about US$49) a night, with half-price tickets at R$125.
## Rio Open 2027 Dates
The Rio Open tennis tournament runs from 13 to 21 February 2.027 at the Jockey Club.
## Rio Open Ticket Prices
General ticket sales opened on 13 October 2026, with prices from R$70 to R$990 (about US$14 to US$195).
## Rio Open Stadium Expansion
The main court grows from 6,200 to 9,500 seats for the 2027 tournament.
## Rio Population
Rio de Janeiro has about 6.2 million people, and its state has about 16 million.
## Prediction Markets
Kalshi prediction markets show Douglas Ruas at 99% chance of winning the governorship.
## What to Watch Next
Rio's voters take part in the presidential runoff on Sunday 25 October, and Ruas takes office as governor on 6 January 2027.
## What It Means for US Readers
US visitors planning Carnival or the Rio Open should book early, as both events sell tickets months ahead.
## Key takeaway

Rio de Janeiro's governor-elect Douglas Ruas won the first round of the 2026 election with 50.88% of valid votes after Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court voided 274,411 votes for Anthony Garotinho.