2006 Rio Grande do Sul gubernatorial election
# 2006 Rio Grande do Sul gubernatorial election

Most major parties launched gubernatorial candidates for the 2006 elections in Rio Grande do Sul:

* PMDB: Incumbent governor Germano Rigotto in coalition with the PTB, which provided vice-gubernatorial candidate Sonia Santos. Rigotto finished third.
* PT: Former governor and Minister for the Cities Olívio Dutra in coalition with PC do B, which provided as vice-gubernatorial candidate the state deputy Jussara Cony. Olívio lost in the second round of vote.
* PSDB: Federal deputy and former Minister of Planning Yeda Crusius, in coalition of PPS, PFL and many smaller parties. Ms. Crusius won the election after a run-off.
* PDT: Federal deputy and former governor Alceu Collares
* PP: Former Minister for the Agriculture Francisco Turra
* Other parties to field candidates include PSOL, PSB, PCO, and PV.

## Opinion polls

Porto Alegre newspaper Correio do Povo published on 15 July 2006 an opinion poll with the following results:

* Germano Rigotto: 28.1%
* Olívio Dutra: 20.8%
* Yeda Crusius: 14.5%
* Alceu Collares: 9.6%
* Francisco Turra: 4.2%

A new poll was published by Correio do Povo on 23 September 2006:

* Germano Rigotto: 29.2%
* Olívio Dutra: 23.4%
* Yeda Crusius: 19.7%
* Francisco Turra: 6.0%
* Alceu Collares: 4.5%

In the end, Mr. Rigotto finished the first round in the third place, opening the way for a run-off between Crusius and Dutra, which the PSDB candidate won.

