Eduardo Paes

Eduardo da Costa Paes (, born 14 November 1969) is a Brazilian politician who served as mayor of Rio de Janeiro from 2009 to 2017, and again from 2021 to 2026. On 12 August, at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, he took the Olympic Flag, via Jacques Rogge, from London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Paes was a trenchant critic of the Lula administration, particularly during the Mensalão scandal in 2005 over alleged payments to congresspeople for votes. When it came to his administration as Rio de Janeiro's mayor, scandals continued to occur.

As mayor during the bid, preparation and execution of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Paes faced many challenges, balancing the demands and opportunities of the Olympics with the needs of the Cariocas (the people of Rio de Janeiro).

Paes ran unsuccessfully for Rio de Janeiro state governor in 2018. He was elected for a third term as Rio de Janeiro mayor in 2020, defeating incumbent Marcelo Crivella in the run-off. Despite being elected mayor as a member of the Democrats in 2020, Paes joined the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in 2021, starting a movement for other politicians connected to the mayor to affiliate themselves to the party.

Eduardo Paes resigned as mayor on 20 March 2026 to run for governor of Rio de Janeiro State.

Personal life

Paes, a Catholic, is married to Cristine; they have two children.

Electoral history +ElectionPartyOfficeCoalitionRunning mateFirst roundSecond roundResultsVotes%Votes%PFLCity councilor82,418(#1)Federal deputyGoverno de Verdade (PFL, PPB, PTB)117,1641.65 (#5)Federal deputyTodos pelo Rio (PFL, PMDB, PSDB)186,2212.31 (#5)PSDBGovernor (PSDB)440,4845.33 (#5)PMDBMayorUnidos pelo Rio (PMDB, PP, PTB, PSL)Alberto Muniz (PMDB)1,049,01931.98 (#1)1.696.19550.83 (#1)MayorSomos Um Rio (PRB, PP, PDT, PT, PTB, PMDB, PSL, PTN, PSC, PPS, PSDC, PRTB, PHS, PMN, PTC, PSB, PRP, PSD, PCdoB, PTdoB)Adilson Pires (PMDB)2,097,73364.60 (#1)2018 Rio de Janeiro state electionDEMGovernorForça do Rio (DEM, PPS, PSDB, PP, PTB, MDB, SD, PV, DC, PHS, AVANTE, PMN)Comte Bittencourt (PPS)1,494,83119.56 (#2)3,134,40040.13 (#2)2020 Rio de Janeiro municipal electionMayorA Certeza de Um Rio Melhor (DEM, PL, Cidadania, DC, PV, Avante, PSDB)Nilton Caldeira (PL)974,80437.01 (#1)1,629,31964.07 (#1)2024 Rio de Janeiro municipal electionPSDMayorÉ o Rio Seguindo em Frente (PSD, PDT, PSB, PT/PCdoB/PV, Avante, Solidariedade, Agir, PODE, PRD, DC)Eduardo Cavaliere (PSD)1,861,85660.47 (#1)