RE-ELECTION OF MAYORS AND FACING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2020

Abstract

Did the covid-19 pandemic affect the success or failure of candidates for reelection in the 2020 municipal elections? To answer this question, we tested the influence of five-dimensional variables: individual characteristics of applicants, political factors municipalities, socioeconomic and governance issues, as well as contextual indicators of the pandemic on the performance of those who tried to renew their mandates. The research circumscribed 3032 municipalities in which mayors participated in the electoral race. The following factors positively influenced reelection: population size, campaigns and spending on health and education. With negative effects, the electoral competition and the gender of the chief executive. It was concluded that the aspects that fact, determined reelection are related to individual attributes of the candidate and the socioeconomic and political characteristics of the municipality, and not to factors directly linked to the pandemic, such as confirmed cases or even deaths.