Story perspectives

Minas Gerais Candidate Copies Trump Style to Boost Votes

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 12:28 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Plínio Vicentin Jr., Party candidate, campaigns as “Plínio Trump” for a Minas Gerais congressional seat.
He drives a vintage Pontiac Grand Ville with a flag, mimicking U.S. President Donald Trump’s hairstyle, tie, stride.
Other candidates include Henrique Barack Obama for a District Senate seat and Mick Jagger for a legislature seat.
Brazil’s tradition began in 1959 with rhinoceros Cacareco’s ballot write-in, and professor Carlos Melo says candidates boost vote totals.

History

Historical Context

Cacareco, a São Paulo zoo rhinoceros, received roughly 100,000 write-in votes in the 1959 city-council election, spawning Brazil’s “voto Cacareco” protest tradition and inspiring the Rhinoceros Party of Canada. Decades later, Minas Gerais candidate Plínio Vicentin Jr., campaigning as “Plínio Trump” in a vintage Pontiac, echoes that satire, pressuring electoral officials to tighten ballot rules.

1 of 2

Story summary

Plínio Vicentin Jr., Party candidate, campaigns as “Plínio Trump” for a Minas Gerais congressional seat.
He drives a vintage Pontiac Grand Ville with a flag, mimicking U.S. President Donald Trump’s hairstyle, tie, stride.
Other candidates include Henrique Barack Obama for a District Senate seat and Mick Jagger for a legislature seat.
Brazil’s tradition began in 1959 with rhinoceros Cacareco’s ballot write-in, and professor Carlos Melo says candidates boost vote totals.

1 / 2