✓ verbatim from the press
The PT decided to launch its own candidacy for the governorship of Minas Gerais in the 2026 elections, as announced this Wednesday (24) by the state party president, deputy Leninha, after a meeting with President Lula at the Alvorada Palace. The decision marks a turnaround in the party's strategy in the country's second-largest electoral college, after Senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSB) indicated he would leave public life at the end of his term. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"O PT decidiu que terá candidatura própria ao governo de Minas Gerais nas eleições de 2026. A definição foi confirmada nesta quarta-feira (24) pela presidente estadual da sigla, deputada Leninha, após reunião com o presidente Lula, a bancada federal mineira e representantes da direção nacional do partido no Palácio da Alvorada, em Brasília."
"A preferência inicial de Lula era construir uma candidatura em torno do senador Rodrigo Pacheco, do PSB, mas o ex-presidente do Senado indicou que deve deixar a vida pública ao fim do mandato."
The name that will lead the ticket has not yet been defined. Behind the scenes, former Contagem mayor Marília Campos — currently a pre-candidate for the Senate — is pointed out as the strongest option, but has resisted abandoning the senatorial route. Other names circulate in internal debate, such as federal deputies Reginaldo Lopes and Rogério Correia, both with plans to run for reelection to the Chamber, and former UFMG rector Sandra Goulart, recently affiliated with the party. ✓
Press quotes (3)
"O nome que encabeçará a chapa ainda não foi anunciado. Nos bastidores, porém, a ex-prefeita de Contagem Marília Campos é apontada como a opção mais forte do partido para disputar o Palácio Tiradentes. Ela estava até agora posicionada como pré-candidata ao Senado."
"Outros nomes também circulam no debate interno, como os deputados federais Reginaldo Lopes e Rogério Correia, mas ambos têm planos de disputar a reeleição para a Câmara."
"Temos a Marília Campos, que é nossa candidata ao Senado e lidera muito bem esse projeto, mas que também desempenha muito bem uma candidatura ao governo. Temos a Sandra Goulart, ex-reitora da UFMG, um nome altamente qualificado."
Lula's initial preference was to build a candidacy around Pacheco, but the former Senate president ruled out running for the succession of Romeu Zema (Novo) at the end of May. According to Estado de Minas, the PT's Minas Gerais directory had already reached this understanding of its own candidacy, which was now endorsed by Lula at Wednesday's meeting. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A definição fortalece a posição que já vinha ganhando corpo internamente desde o fim de maio, quando o senador Rodrigo Pacheco (PSB) descartou disputar a sucessão do governador Romeu Zema (Novo)."
The field of pre-candidates for the Minas Gerais governorship includes, according to G1 in April, six names already announced: Alexandre Kalil (PDT), Ben Mendes (Missão), Cleitinho (Republicanos), Gabriel Azevedo (MDB), Mateus Simões (PSD), and Túlio Lopes (PCB). The PT also maintains conversations with Jarbas Soares Júnior (PSB), former attorney general of the Minas Gerais Public Prosecutor's Office, and with Gabriel Azevedo, who has the support of Marília Campos and part of the PV and PCdoB, federated with the PT. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A disputa pelo governo de Minas Gerais em 2026 tem agora 6 nomes anunciados como pré-candidatos. São eles: - Alexandre Kalil (PDT) - Ben Mendes (Missão) - Cleitinho (Republicanos) - Gabriel Azevedo (MDB) - Mateus Simões (PSD) - Túlio Lopes (PCB)"
"Além da candidatura própria, outras hipóteses no radar são de composições com o ex-procurador-geral do Ministério Público de Minas Gerais (MPMG), Jarbas Soares Júnior (PSB), e com o ex-vereador de Belo Horizonte, Gabriel Azevedo (MDB). O emedebista, inclusive, tem o apoio de Marília Campos e de parte do PV e do PCdoB, que estão federados ao PT."
Although Minas Gerais has been decisive for Lula's presidential victories in 2002, 2006, and 2022, as well as Dilma Rousseff's elections in 2010 and 2014, the PT has managed to elect only one governor since its founding in 1980. The construction of its own candidacy is seen internally as a way for the party to have greater autonomy and face the historical rejection that has kept it away from state executive races. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Embora Minas tenha sido decisiva para as vitórias presidenciais de Lula em 2002, 2006 e 2022, além das eleições de Dilma Rousseff em 2010 e 2014, o partido conseguiu eleger apenas um governador desde sua fundação, em 1980."
"A construção de uma candidatura própria também é vista internamente como uma forma de o partido ter maior autonomia e enfrentar a rejeição que historicamente os tem afastado das disputas pelo governo de Minas."
The decision for an independent candidacy was made at a meeting with Lula at the Alvorada Palace on June 24, 2026, after Rodrigo Pacheco ruled out running for the Minas governorship
Marília Campos is pointed to as the strongest option behind the scenes, but resists abandoning her Senate pre-candidacy
PT has managed to elect only one governor in Minas Gerais since its founding in 1980, despite the party's strength in presidential elections in the state
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (5)
Lula again defended at the June 24 meeting that Marília Campos is the most suitable name for the race
Marília Campos and Lula were unable to meet during the presidential visit to Minas last week (June 19), when she was in Vale do Jequitinhonha on previously scheduled commitments
Gleide Andrade, PT's National Finance Secretary, stated on Friday (19) that the party conducted a broad field poll and that the tendency was to move toward an independent candidacy, with name definition within 10 days
The decision was made in a resolution approved at the end of May during a meeting at the Metalworkers' Union headquarters in Contagem, a few days after Rodrigo Pacheco communicated he would not enter the race
Gabriel Azevedo met with Edinho Silva, PT's national president, and maintains meetings with PT deputies
-
What were the specific terms of the negotiation between PT and Rodrigo Pacheco, and what was the red line that led to the refusal?
Why it's still unknown: All three sources report that Pacheco refused the invitation and decided to leave public life, but none detail the conditions offered by PT, Pacheco's counterproposals, or whether the refusal was due to programmatic divergence, his own electoral calculation, or the cost of association with PT in Minas.
-
What is PT's electoral strength in Minas Gerais in the last three gubernatorial elections, and is the independent candidacy competitive for a runoff or symbolic?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention that PT has elected only one governor since 1980 and faces historical rejection in the state, but do not present voting data from the last three gubernatorial elections, performance of independent vs coalition candidacies, or municipal base that would allow assessment of the 2026 candidacy's electoral viability.
-
What are the methodological criteria of the internal polls that point to Marília Campos as the most viable name?
Why it's still unknown: Estado de Minas cites 'internal polls' and O Tempo mentions 'internal polls conducted by PT members', but no source details the institute, sample size, collection method, field period, or margin of error — elements necessary to assess the statistical significance of Marília's position.
-
Why does Marília Campos resist switching from the Senate pre-candidacy to the governor's race, and what support has she already built in Minas municipalities for the senatorial race?
Why it's still unknown: All sources report that Marília 'has resisted', but none explain the reasons for the resistance — whether it is due to viability assessment, commitments already made, or personal preference for the Senate seat. Estado de Minas mentions that she 'had been moving and building support in Minas municipalities', but does not detail which municipalities or local leaders.