Governor Mateus Simões (PSD) officially announced his candidacy for re-election as governor of Minas Gerais on Sunday, Aug. 2 [1].
The bid represents an effort to maintain the administrative trajectory of his predecessor, Romeu Zema. Because Simões assumed the governorship in March 2026 [2] following Zema's resignation, the election serves as a referendum on the continuity of their shared fiscal and social policies.
Simões formalized his nomination during the PSD state convention held at the Assembleia Legislativa de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte [1, 3]. The event was marked by the presence of party allies and the explicit endorsement of Zema, signaling a unified front for the PSD in the state.
Simões previously entered the executive branch after being elected as vice-governor in 2022 [2]. His current campaign emphasizes a break from traditional political methods and a focus on state solvency.
"A mudança que Minas precisava já aconteceu, nós tiramos o estado da pior crise da sua história, colocamos as contas em ordem, investimos nas pessoas e mostramos que é possível dizer não à velha política e sim aos mineiros," Simões said [4].
The governor's platform centers on the claim that the administration has successfully navigated the state out of its most severe historical crisis [4]. By positioning himself as the successor to Zema's legacy, Simões aims to consolidate the support of voters who favor the current administration's approach to public spending, and governance.
The PSD convention also served as a venue to organize the broader ticket for the upcoming elections. While the governor's bid was the primary focus, the party has also navigated internal dynamics regarding other legislative seats to ensure a cohesive coalition for the 2026 cycle [5].
“"A mudança que Minas precisava já aconteceu... mostramos que é possível dizer não à velha política"”
The official candidacy of Mateus Simões solidifies the PSD's strategy to maintain executive power in Minas Gerais by linking the current administration's identity to the popularity of Romeu Zema. By framing the election as a choice between 'old politics' and the current management's fiscal order, Simões is attempting to convert the stability of the transition into a mandate for a full term.
