 During the three months of the campaign, Déda began to jump in the polls, winning the election still in the first round, with 52.80% of the valid votes, beside the then vice-mayor Edvaldo Nogueira.In 2004, Déda was reelected as mayor of Aracaju, with 71.38% of the valid votes.On March 31, 2006, Déda resigned as mayor of Aracaju to face the competition for governor of Sergipe.