The incumbent mayor, José Sarto, a member of the Democratic Labour Party (PDT), was elected in 2020[1] for his first term and intends to run for reelection.

[2] Candidates André Fernandes (PL) and Evandro Leitão (PT) were the most voted and advanced for a runoff, held on 27 October 2024.

[4] The last mayoral election in Fortaleza, held in 2020, resulted in the victory of the physician José Sarto Nogueira (PDT) in the second round.

[5] Starting in January 2021, Sarto's government was disapproved by more than 50% of the citizens of Fortaleza in opinion polls,[6][7] and, despite his approval ratings improved throughout 2023 due to a program of investments and interventions in the city,[8] his government disapproval rating was ranked in fourth among the mayors of the 26 Brazilian capitals in a report published by Atlasintel in January 2024.

[20] The Sustainability Network announced a potential candidacy of the environmentalist Cindy Carvalho on 13 March 2024;[22] due to this situation, both parties (PSOL and REDE) entered into an agreement and nominated her as the running mate of Técio Nunes on 4 May 2024.

[30] About two years before the election, Sarto stated that he could run for re-election as long as it was a Democratic Labour Party's decision.

At the same time, Ciro's political group had internal disputes in the state directory with his own brother Cid Gomes, who is an ally of the governor Elmano de Freitas, from the Workers' Party (PT).

[18][32][33] In February 2023, the politician Capitão Wagner, now a member of Brazil Union (UNIÃO), announced that he could run again for mayor of Fortaleza in 2024, a position for which he ran in 2016 and 2020.