started · updated
Mateus Simões secures re‑election bid as Minas Gerais governor race reshapes after Cleitinho's withdrawal
Governor Mateus Simões (PSD) was officially nominated at the party’s convention on 2 August and confirmed the support of former governor Romeu Zema for his re‑election campaign. Simões, who assumed the governorship in March 2026 after Zema’s resignation, criticised political polarization and referred to former deputy Eduardo Cunha as a “resurrected corpse”.
Senator Cleitinho Azevedo (Republicanos) announced on 3 August that he will not run for the Minas Gerais governorship, citing the recent death of his brother Matheus Azevedo and personal health concerns. His withdrawal ends a months‑long internal dispute within Republicanos and removes a leading right‑wing contender from the race.
The left‑wing field is now set with Alexandre Kalil (PDT) and Patrus Ananias (PT federation) officially nominated, though both parties have yet to name vice‑governor candidates. Ongoing negotiations among parties aim to broaden alliances ahead of the August 5 deadline for conventions and the August 15 deadline for filing candidacies.
Entities
Alexandre Kalil · Cleitinho Azevedo · Eduardo Cunha · Flávio Bolsonaro · Liberal Party (PL) · Marcos Pereira · Mateus Simões · Minas Gerais · Patrus Ananias · Republicanos · Romeu Zema
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mateus Simões criticized Eduardo Cunha, calling him a “resurrected corpse”. valor.globo.com · emmepress.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Mateus Simões was officially nominated as the PSD candidate for re‑election as governor of Minas Gerais. g37.com.br · correiodeminas.com.br · valor.globo.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Republicanos party announced it will reconsider and may admit Senator Cleitinho Azevedo as its candidate for the Minas Gerais governorship after earlier rejecting him. www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br · painelpolitico.com · ajunews.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Analysts referenced the “Witzel ghost” as a risk factor for outsider candidates like Cleitinho Azevedo. www.infomoney.com.br · emmepress.com
- [DISPUTED] Cleitinho Azevedo withdrew from the Minas Gerais governorship race after losing party support. emmepress.com · www.infomoney.com.br · painelpolitico.com · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · sulminastv.com.br · +4 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Eduardo Cunha is under Federal Police investigation for alleged misuse of parliamentary amendments.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Party leaders said the final decision on Cleitinho’s candidacy would be made on Monday. ajunews.com.br · www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Marcelo Aro was discussed as a potential vice‑governor candidate linked to Cleitinho’s ticket.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Eduardo Cunha was called a “cadaver” by Mateus Simões. emmepress.com · br.paipee.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Helton Junior praised Mateus Simões as the only candidate truly wanting to be governor. www.em.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Eduardo Cunha called Mateus Simões a “candidate for fifth place”. br.paipee.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Republicanos reversed its earlier rejection and admitted Cleitinho Azevedo’s candidacy after pressure from the senator. www.diariodocentrodomundo.com.br