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> Brazil's only Indigenous woman mayor

> Brazil's local elections: More women and members from minority groups elected. Mayors are getting younger

Ninha from Marcação (State of Paraíba) was the only Indigenous woman to be elected mayor in Brazil in the 2024 municipal elections

Brazil’s only Indigenous female mayor hopes to become a role model for young women

January 2025: In last year’s (2024) municipal elections across Brazil, only one indigenous woman was elected mayor. Known as Ninha, Ellys Sônia Oliveira Gomes Da Silva was overwhelmingly elected mayor of Marcação in the north-eastern coastal state of Paraíba. Now, the city’s mayor and all councillors are members of the Potiguara ethnic group. The new mayor defeated another female candidate from the Potiguara ethnic group. Marcação has a tradition of electing Indigenous women. The former mayor, Lili, is also Indigenous Potiguara and backed Ninha during her campaign.

The newly elected Mayor of Marcação said after her victory was confirmed that she was proud of her Potiguara Indigenous descent. “I started working in public administration at the age of 15. My grandparents, Severina and João Correia, were already politicians, not by election, but by blood, because they wanted to see Marcação grow. I'm very grateful to them for the upbringing they gave us, for this Potiguara and Indigenous ancestry.” Mayor Ninha concluded by saying that she hoped that through her work, she could encourage young Indigenous women to consider public service.

According to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, some 256 Indigenous candidates were elected in Brazil’s 2024 municipal elections, which selected mayors and councillors to govern and oversee city management in Brazil until 2028. Of the eight states comprising the Amazon Legal region, 106 Indigenous officials were sworn in, with Amazonas leading the way, electing 47 individuals, including mayors, deputy mayors and councillors. Rondônia recorded the fewest Indigenous officials, with just one councillor elected.

According to data from the Brazil Superior Electoral Court, Indigenous candidates received 1,635,530 votes in the last election. A total of 2,479 candidates identified as Indigenous in the 2024 election, representing a 14.13 per cent increase compared to the 2020 elections, which had 2,172 candidates. Regarding the number of Indigenous officials elected, the increase exceeded eight per cent, with 237 candidates elected in 2020.

On a national level, according to the ministry, nine Indigenous individuals were elected as mayors in 2024 (eight men and one woman), 13 as deputy mayors (four women), and 234 as councillors (36 women). According to the TSE, 170 ethnicities were represented in Indigenous candidacies in the last election.

Contributors include Phelipe Caldas, Ana Beatriz Rocha and Ana Pastana

Further reading: Few women mayors elected in Brazil

Brazil elected more women mayors, but parity with men is still a long-term goal

January 2025: In last year’s municipal elections, Brazil elected more female, black and indigenous mayors than ever. While it will probably require several more elections for women to reach parity with men in the country’s municipal parliaments, the October 2024 local ballots saw an increase in women elected mayor, deputy mayor and town councillor. As of 1 January 2025, there are now some seven per cent more women mayors than during the past four years. Still, the 728 elected women mayors only represent some 13 per cent of all of the country’s mayors.

Women running for deputy mayor were even more successful. Brazil now has 1,066 female deputy mayors, an increase of 15 per cent. The number of elected female councillors grew by 12 per cent, reaching a total of 10,537.

The number of newly elected black and indigenous mayors has also increased, the former by 14 per cent and the latter by 12 per cent. Black candidates running for deputy mayor were even more successful. There are now 38 per cent more black deputy mayors than before the election.

Brazil’s mayors, their deputies and municipal councillors are also getting younger. The number of mayors aged 29 or younger more than tripled, rising from 36 in 2020 to 119 after the 2024 election. In contrast, significant declines were recorded among older age groups: 851 mayors were elected between the ages of 60 and 69, a 29 per cent decrease, while those over 70 dropped to 249, a 38 per cent decline.

In terms of education, almost 60 per cent of mayors elected in 2024 have completed higher education, as have 47 per cent of deputy mayors.

Further reading: Only two Brazilian state capitals elected women mayors |

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