Minas Gerais Parties Begin Candidate Selection Conventions for 2026 Elections

Four political parties in Minas Gerais, Brazil, are holding their conventions on Monday, June 20th, marking the official start of the electoral calendar for defining candidates and forming coalitions for the upcoming elections. These meetings, taking place in Belo Horizonte, are the first of many, with the convention period extending until August 5th. Following the conventions, chosen candidates must be registered with the Electoral Justice by August 16th, after which official campaigns, including public and online advertising, will commence on August 17th. The parties holding conventions on Monday are Solidariedade, PRD, and Democrata, all starting at 9 AM, and UP, beginning at 6:30 PM. Seven other parties, including Missão, PSTU, Republicanos, PCB, PDT, PSOL, and Rede, are scheduled to hold their conventions later in the week, by Sunday, June 26th. Minas Gerais is a critical state in national elections, having voted for every elected president since 1989, making the selection of a governor candidate particularly important for presidential hopefuls. However, the electoral landscape in the state remains uncertain. Senator Cleitinho (Republicanos), who led a recent poll for governor, has not yet confirmed his candidacy. The PSD, the party of the current governor, is expected to confirm its re-election bid on August 2nd. The PT has only recently nominated federal deputy Patrus Ananias for the state's gubernatorial race, with a formal convention planned for later in the month. Initial attempts to secure Rodrigo Pacheco (PSB) as a presidential ally failed, and former Contagem mayor Marília Campos (PT) opted to run for the Senate instead. The PL party also faces uncertainty regarding its gubernatorial candidate, with potential support for Cleitinho or a new candidate being considered, including Flávio Roscoe and Vittorio Medioli.