The Vice Governor of Minas Gerais, Mateus Simões, joined the PSD on Monday with the aim of running for the Palácio Tiradentes in 2026. In an event attended by deputies, mayors, and a marching band, Simões, who belonged to the Novo party, mentioned family and said he had been chosen by God in 1981, the year he was born, to fulfill a mission. ‘Which I intend to accomplish with your help,’ he said in his speech. The affiliation took place at a hotel in Belo Horizonte in the presence of Governor Romeu Zema (Novo) and the national president of PSD, Gilberto Kassab.
Simões stated that, in addition to Novo and PSD, six other parties, namely PP, União, Podemos, Mobiliza, PRD, and DC, are part of the alliance supporting him in the next year’s race. According to the State Secretary of Government, Marcelo Aro (PP), a candidate for one of the Senate seats on Simões’ ticket, PL and Republicanos are also expected to join the coalition.
Negotiations with these two parties are ongoing. PL, at least for now, does not have a gubernatorial candidate. Republicanos, however, may have Senator Cleitinho as a possible candidate for the Palácio Tiradentes. Cleitinho’s entry into the alliance with Simões would therefore hinder his participation in the race for the state government in 2026. ‘We are expecting PL and Republicanos to join,’ Aro said.
The story reached out to Cleitinho’s office, which requested contact with the team of the state president of Republicanos, federal deputy Euclydes Pettersen, which was done. Once there is a response, it will be added to the report. Pettersen is said to be a Senate candidate. During a press conference after the event, Simões mentioned being in constant contact with the two parties. ‘My discussions with PL and Republicanos leaders have been ongoing, aiming to unite the center-right in Minas Gerais. Neither of the parties sent representatives to Simões’ affiliation event.
New face on the ticket
The Vice Governor ensured that his former party will be part of the major ticket for the elections next year. With himself leading the ticket and Aro occupying one of the Senate positions, the roles of Vice Governor and the other Senate seat are open. ‘Novo will be part of the major ticket at this moment. Of course, the specific positions require further discussion with Novo itself and the other parties,’ he stated.
Simões’ move to PSD was to enhance his competitiveness in the election. Leaving a party with nine municipalities in the state, Simões joins one with the largest number of municipal administrations in Minas – 180 out of a total of 853. Another boost will come from PSD’s treasury. During last year’s municipal elections, the Vice Governor’s party received $421 million from the electoral fund, while Novo had access to $37 million. These figures represent the funding allocated to each party on a national level.
Multiple alliances
The national president of PSD, Gilberto Kassab, positioned Governor Romeu Zema (Novo) as the leader of the alliance supporting Simões for the Minas gubernatorial race. ‘As of today, we are under his command. It is up to him, from now on, to lead us,’ Kassab said, pointing to the Governor during his speech at the Vice Governor’s affiliation event. ‘There is no Mateus’ party. There is an alliance. You will give the commands,’ he affirmed.
As the president of a party with members in Lula’s government, Kassab – who also serves as the Government Secretary of São Paulo, a state led by potential presidential candidate Tarcísio de Freitas (Republican) – praised Zema’s decision to position himself as a presidential candidate in 2026. ‘It gives Brazilian voters, from anywhere in the country, the opportunity to vote for an honest individual willing to bring to Brazil the transformations he made in Minas,’ he proclaimed. PSD also has a presidential candidate, the Governor of Paraná, Ratinho Júnior.
Simões mentioned that the agreement with PSD includes giving Romeu Zema the party’s support in Minas for his presidential bid. ‘In Minas Gerais, the platform belongs to Governor Romeu Zema. This is the arrangement and how we will proceed. Ratinho Júnior is also an outstanding figure. Brazil is fortunate to have the opportunity next year to discuss the candidacies of these two individuals whom I deeply admire,’ the Vice Governor stated.
Regarding the presence of Senator Rodrigo Pacheco in PSD, another potential candidate in next year’s gubernatorial race, the state party president, Cassio Soares, mentioned that the senator aims to become a Supreme Federal Court (STF) minister. ‘A highly qualified figure (Pacheco), who has contributed to Minas Gerais as a senator, as well as the previous President of Congress, during the build-up to the Debt Payment Program for the States (Propag). However, he has recently focused on his intention to join the STF, knowing he deserves a presidential appointment, and we have already decided that PSD will support Mateus Simões,’ he declared.
Last week, Pacheco admitted the possibility of running for the state government. It is likely that the senator will leave PSD. Potential parties that could harbor him include PSB and MDB. Besides Simões, Pacheco, and Cleitinho, the other candidate for the Minas gubernatorial race next year is the former Mayor of Belo Horizonte, Alexandre Kalil (PDT).
The event of Simões’ affiliation was likened to a football game, with party members being referred to as soccer players. In a video, Simões was called the ‘captain’ and appeared in digitally created images on a football field. During his speech, the gubernatorial candidate mentioned religion and family. ‘It all started with my faith. I believe that in 1981, I was chosen by God to fulfill a mission here, which I intend to accomplish with your help,’ he told the audience.
‘But this selection was only complete because when I arrived, two people accompanied me: my father and mother,’ the candidate added. Simões’ parents, Gutemberg and Elisa, passed away in a car accident when he was 14 years old. The Vice Governor also acknowledged his wife, Christiana, and made a declaration: ‘I love you.’ Simões is a career civil servant at the Minas Gerais Legislative Assembly and has previously served as a Councilman in Belo Horizonte.
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