Rio court confirms Flávio Bolsonaro ally’s first-round victory

Douglas Ruas secured 50.88% of valid votes after judges annulled a rival’s ballots, eliminating a runoff against Lula-backed Eduardo Paes.RIO DE JANEIRO (CN) — Rio de Janeiro’s regional electoral court confirmed Saturday that Douglas Ruas, backed by presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, won the gubernatorial election in the first round after recalculating the results to exclude former Governor Anthony Garotinho’s votes.Ruas received 50.88% of valid votes, clearing the majority needed to avoid a runoff. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s candidate, Eduardo Paes, finished second with 44.16%.The court scheduled the formal declaration of the winner for Oct. 15, after its vote-counting commission reviews the report.The recalculation followed the Superior Electoral Court’s 5-2 ruling Thursday annulling Garotinho’s 274,411 votes. An administrative misconduct conviction had suspended Garotinho’s political rights, but he appealed and remained on the ballot.Paes conceded Thursday night after Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin rejected his coalition’s request to preserve the Oct. 25 runoff, finding that appeals within the electoral court had not been exhausted.“Unfortunately, the courts decided there will be no runoff, contrary to the voters’ sovereign will,” Paes said in a statement. “We respect judicial decisions. That is how democracy works.”Ruas celebrated the result in a statement, saying voters had chosen “change, renewal and a new path for our state.”“We will govern for all Rio residents and work toward a safer, more inclusive Rio with more opportunities,” he said.Ruas, 37, is president of the state legislature and will become Rio’s youngest governor since the state merged with Guanabara in 1975.He faces an investigation into suspected embezzlement, money laundering, involvement in a criminal organization and procurement offenses. The proceedings are under seal.Ruas is expected to take office in January. Appellate Judge Ricardo Couto has governed Rio since March amid a separate dispute over choosing a successor to former Governor Cláudio Castro to complete his term, which ends Jan. 6. The Supreme Court has not resumed the case since Justice Flávio Dino requested more time to review it April 9.Courthouse News reporter Marília Marasciulo is based in Brazil.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads