Mato Grosso Governor Otaviano Pivetta Gains Podemos Support for 2026 Re‑election

Otaviano Pivetta Podemos Fábio Garcia Mato Grosso election 2026 gubernatorial

Incumbent Governor Otaviano Pivetta of Mato Grosso has been confirmed as the Republican Party candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial election and has selected federal deputy Fábio Garcia (União Brasil) as his running mate. The selection was backed by a broad coalition of municipal leaders, with 122 mayors publicly supporting Garcia’s candidacy.

The state branch of Podemos, led by Assembly President Max Russi, announced that the party will support Pivetta’s re‑election, ending internal discussions about launching its own gubernatorial candidate. While Podemos will back the Pivetta‑Garcia ticket, the party also said its members are free to support other candidates in the major race.

Opposition parties have formed an alliance of the PL and MDB, nominating senator Wellington Fagundes (PL) for governor and deputy Janaina Riva (MDB) for the Senate. The alliance also named businessman Marcelo Maluf as the vice‑governor candidate on Fagundes’ ticket. The PL‑MDB coalition has been criticised by Cuiabá mayor Abílio Brunini, who called the partnership a strategic error.

Legal proceedings have also entered the election arena: a judge ordered the removal of a social‑media poll that linked former governor Mauro Mendes to alleged scandals, deeming it potentially illegal election propaganda.

Entities

Fabio Garcia · Flávio Bolsonaro · Janaina Riva · José Medeiros · Mato Grosso · Mauro Mendes · Max Russi · Movimento Democrático Brasileiro (MDB) · Otaviano Pivetta · Partido Liberal (PL) · Podemos (Brazilian political party) · Podemos (Mato Grosso)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Pivetta said he considered female candidates for vice but chose Garcia because he scored the most points. momentomt.com.br
[● 3 SOURCES] Pivetta evaluated female candidates for vice but chose Garcia because he scored the most points. momentomt.com.br
[● 5 SOURCES] A letter signed by 122 mayors supported the selection of Fábio Garcia as vice‑governor. portonoticias.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · omatogrosso.com
[● 9 SOURCES] Max Russi is the president of the Mato Grosso Legislative Assembly. momentomt.com.br · portonoticias.com.br · cenariomt.com.br
[● 10 SOURCES] Fábio Garcia was selected as the vice‑governor candidate on Pivetta's ticket. momentomt.com.br · portonoticias.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · portalmatogrosso.com.br
[DISPUTED] Max Russi announced that Podemos will run its own candidate for the Mato Grosso governorship.
[○ 1 SOURCE] An audio leak suggested the PL had planned an alliance with the MDB, contradicting earlier statements that no alliance would be formed.
[● 12 SOURCES] Otaviano Pivetta is running for re‑election as governor of Mato Grosso. momentomt.com.br · portonoticias.com.br · cenariomt.com.br · minutomt.com.br · portalmatogrosso.com.br · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The PL and MDB formed an alliance for the Mato Grosso gubernatorial election. momentomt.com.br · www.reportermt.com · leiagora.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Novo party is evaluating Marcelo Maluf as a potential vice‑candidate for Wellington Fagundes (PL).
[○ 1 SOURCE] Zé Medeiros (PL) said PL members will not be forced to campaign with MDB candidates.
[DISPUTED] Max Russi announced that Podemos will support Otaviano Pivetta's re‑election. minutomt.com.br · www.obomdanoticia.com.br · reporternews.com.br