Patrus Ananias Named PT Pre‑candidate for Minas Gerais Governorship

Deputy federal Patrus Ananias, former mayor of Belo Horizonte and ex‑minister in the Lula administrations, confirmed on 20 July 2026 that he will run as the Workers’ Party (PT) pre‑candidate for the governorship of Minas Gerais, Brazil’s second‑largest electorate. The announcement follows a series of refusals from other potential candidates, including former Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco, ex‑prefect Marília Campos and businessman Alexandre Kalil, prompting the PT to field its own candidate at President Lula’s request.

The PT is now negotiating alliances for the state ticket. Discussions with the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) target the vice‑governor slot, while talks with the PSOL‑Rede federation and the MDB continue. A separate effort by the Liberal Party (PL) to bring former governor Aécio Neves into a Minas coalition met resistance from Bolsonaro‑aligned members. The resolution of the Minas candidacy removes a major uncertainty for Lula’s national campaign, shifting strategic focus to the remaining open state, Goiás.

Patrus’s campaign stresses his experience in public administration and social programs, promising to “listen to the people” across the state and to build on his past work in poverty‑reduction policies. The election is viewed as a pivotal test for the PT’s broader electoral strategy ahead of the 2026 general elections.