União Brasil backs Otaviano Pivetta for Mato Grosso Governor
The União Brasil party has officially endorsed Otaviano Pivetta as its candidate for governor of Mato Grosso. This decision was made during the party's convention held on Thursday, July 30th, in Cuiabá, with a live online broadcast. The convention also confirmed Mauro Mendes's candidacy for the Senate, while rejecting Senator Jayme Campos's bid. Otaviano Olavo Pivetta, an agricultural producer born in Caiçara, Rio Grande do Sul, moved to Mato Grosso in 1982. He previously served as vice-governor under Mauro Mendes starting in 2019, and was re-elected in 2022 on the same ticket with 68% of the vote. Pivetta assumed the role of state governor in March of this year when Mendes announced his Senate candidacy. The União Brasil party will form a coalition with the Progressistas (PP) party for the upcoming elections. The PP convention also announced businesswoman Margareth Buzetti as a Senate candidate, with Cidinho Santos as her first substitute. The deadline for party conventions to select candidates is August 5th, with candidate registrations due to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) by August 15th. Election campaigns officially begin the following day, leading up to the October 4th elections for president, governor, two Senate seats per state, federal deputies, and state deputies. Pivetta's political career began in Lucas do Rio Verde, where he served three terms as mayor from 1997 to 2016, leaving office with over 80% approval. He also served as a state deputy before being elected vice-governor in 2018.
The decision by União Brasil to back Otaviano Pivetta for governor, alongside Mauro Mendes's Senate bid, reflects strategic coalition-building ahead of the October elections. This move consolidates support within the state, potentially leveraging Pivetta's executive experience as acting governor and his prior mayoral and legislative roles. The endorsement also signals a preference for continuity and established political figures. As the election calendar progresses, the effectiveness of these alliances and candidate platforms will be tested against voter priorities and the broader national political landscape. Future electoral cycles may see shifts in party allegiances as regional and national interests evolve.
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