Party decided to launch its own ticket for the government and named the former mayor of Contagem as the best name; she reaffirms her intention to run for the Senate seat, a position for which she is leading in the polls
(PT), former mayor of Contagem (MG) and consensus name of the Workers’ Party to head the ticket for the government of Minas Gerais, classified this Thursday (June 25, 2026) as “strategic mistake” the party’s decision to launch its own candidacy for Palácio Tiradentes in 2026.
The statement was published in a press release, one day after the PT of Minas Gerais approved a resolution to have its own candidacy and for the candidacy. She is a pre-candidate for the Senate and appears voting intentions in various surveys.
Campos classified the decision of a pure-blood party ticket in Minas as “legitimate from a partisan point of view“, but “a strategic mistake that could weaken the democratic and popular field in the State”.
The former mayor reiterated that her “only availability” is to run for a seat in the Federal Senate. The party leadership hopes to talk to Campos to convince her to run for government.
For Campos, “The path is not to present your own candidacy, but to lead the construction of a broad and competitive alliance” with several parties from the center to the left.
“Reproducing a strongly polarized dispute tends to place conflicts that do little to address the concrete problems of miners at the center of the debate.”, he added in the note.
IMPASSE IN MINES
The president (PT) faces difficulties in securing a competitive platform in the dispute in Minas, a strategic state in its re-election attempt.
The PT also spoke to pre-candidates from other parties. The national president of the party, searched a few times former mayor of Belo Horizonte and PDT pre-candidate for the Minas Gerais government. The 2 in November 2025 to address the issue, but the conversation did not prosper.
In 2026, the PT counted on the pre-candidacy of the senator (PSB-MG) to the state government, but the congressman withdrew from running in the election. Gabriel Azevedo (MDB), former mayor of Belo Horizonte, was also contacted.
On June 16, Edinho the possibility that Marília Campos would stop running for the Senate and run for government of Minas Gerais. “Marília is a candidate for the Senate. This is defined and we are very convinced that she will be Senator of the Republic in 2027”, he declared.
Read the full note from Marília Campos:
“The decision to launch its own candidacy for the Government of Minas Gerais in 2026, reaffirmed in the note released by the PT of Minas Gerais, deserves reflection. Although legitimate from a partisan point of view, it represents a strategic mistake that could weaken the democratic and popular field in the state.
“The political reality of Minas and the challenges of 2026 require the ability to dialogue, build consensus and broad alliances. Reproducing a strongly polarized dispute tends to place conflicts that do little to address the concrete problems of miners at the center of the debate, in addition to hindering the formation of a political majority capable of sustaining the democratic project led by President Lula.
“Research shows that the progressive camp is still seeking to consolidate a competitive candidacy for government. Precisely for this reason, the path is not to present your own candidacy, but to lead the construction of a broad and competitive alliance, bringing together PT, PCdoB, PV, PSB, MDB, REDE, PSOL, PDT and other forces that support the federal government. Lula’s election in 2022 demonstrated that the best results come from dialogue, convergence and broad fronts.
“Marília Campos’ pre-candidacy for the Senate — collectively constructed, approved by party bodies since January and supported by the national president of the PT, Edinho Silva — demonstrates political strength. Marília left Contagem City Hall, where she governed with broad popular approval, to travel around Minas, dialogue with mayors, councilors, the productive sector and social movements. This is a strategic pre-candidacy because Minas currently does not have senators from President Lula’s base and because it represents an important advance in the female presence in majority positions. This is the only political availability made by Marília for the 2026 dispute and the PT platform capable of contributing to the re-election of President Lula in the state.
“The pre-candidacy team reaffirms the conviction that Minas Gerais needs to build a broad democratic alliance to contest the State Government, bringing together the parties that support the Lula government and prioritizing what unites progressive and democratic forces. More than individual projects, the moment requires political responsibility, dialogue and commitment to a viable alternative for Minas Gerais.”
