Senate has lowest proportion of Black candidates in Brazil's last three elections

A study by Insper's Racial Studies Research Center reveals a persistent underrepresentation of Black Brazilians in candidacies for the Senate, showing the least progress among major legislative bodies over the past three elections. While there has been a reduction in the imbalance for state and federal deputy positions, the Senate's racial disparity has seen minimal change between 2014 and 2022.

In the 2022 elections, Black candidates constituted 32.5% of Senate contenders, a figure that has barely shifted since 2014. This contrasts with state and federal deputy races, where Black candidates represented 52.2% and 48.3% respectively. Despite Black individuals forming a majority of Brazil's population (55.5% combined Black and mixed-race according to the 2022 Census), their representation in the Senate remains significantly lower.

Adding to the concern, leaders from major political parties, including PT and PL, are reportedly advocating to exclude majority Black campaigns, such as those for the Senate, from the calculation of minimum quotas for electoral fund distribution designated for Black and women candidates. This proposed rule change, if approved by the Electoral Justice system, could impact future elections.

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) currently mandates that parties allocate 30% of their campaign funds to Black candidates and an equal percentage to female candidates. However, the distribution method is not specified, allowing parties to concentrate funds on a few high-profile candidates or spread them thinly. The Insper research indicates a general trend toward greater balance in candidacies, with white candidates' participation decreasing from 55% in 2014 to 48% in 2022, while Black and mixed-race candidates became the majority among all candidates for the first time. Nevertheless, the Senate continues to lag significantly behind other legislative positions in Black representation.