A Quaest poll released on Tuesday (25) shows Antônio Furlan (PSD), known as Dr. Furlan, leading the race for governor of Amapá, a small state in Brazil's far north, with 55% of voting intentions. The incumbent governor, Clécio Luís (União Brasil), comes in second with 35%. The survey, the institute's first in the state in this election cycle, was commissioned by the Rede Amazônica TV network.
In the prompted scenario, in which voters are shown the list of candidates, Jairo Palheta (PCO) registers 1%, while Carlos Cley (PSTU) and Delegado Marcos (Democracia Cristã) score zero. Undecided voters add up to 8%, and 1% say they will cast a blank or null ballot or not vote at all. In the spontaneous survey, in which no names are read out, Dr. Furlan reaches 43% and Clécio Luís 22%, with 35% undecided.
In a runoff simulation, Dr. Furlan would win by 54% to 36%. Blank and null votes plus abstentions total 4%, and 6% are undecided. For 80% of those interviewed, the choice of candidate is already final.
Rejection and political backdrop
Quaest also measured rejection rates. Clécio Luís has the highest: 50% of voters say they know him and would not vote for him, against 22% for Dr. Furlan. According to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, the governor is an ally of Senate president Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP) and is waiting for President Lula to decide whether to endorse his reelection bid, as talks between the federal government and Senate leadership resume.
Dr. Furlan was reelected mayor of Macapá, the state capital, in 2024 with 85.08% of valid votes, Folha reports. The poll also shows 53% of voters approve of the current state government and 37% disapprove. Asked about Amapá's main problem, 43% point to health care, followed by unemployment (10%) and infrastructure (9%).
The race takes place amid the discovery of signs of oil in the Foz do Amazonas basin, in ultra-deep waters off the state's coast. Candidates have been sparring over the issue, competing for the credit of bringing a Petrobras base to the region, according to Folha.
Quaest interviewed 804 people aged 16 or older between August 21 and 24. The margin of error is three percentage points either way, with a 95% confidence level. The poll is registered with the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) under number AP-09438/2026. The election takes place on October 4.