# 2018 Minas Gerais gubernatorial election

The 2018 state elections in Minas Gerais were held on 7 October, as part of the general elections in the Federal District and in 26 states, to elect one Governor and Vice Governor, two Senators and four substitutes for Senator, 53 Federal Deputies, and 77 State Deputies. In the election for Governor, entrepreneur Romeu Zema (NOVO) finished in first place with 42.73% of the valid votes, followed by Senator Antonio Anastasia (PSDB) with 29.06%. Incumbent Governor Fernando Pimentel (PT) couldn't re-elect, placing third place with 23.12% of the votes. As the first place didn't reach 50% of the votes, a second round took place on 28 October. Zema was elect Governor with 71.80% of the votes, and Anastasia placed second with 28.20%.
For the Federal Senate, the then Federal Deputy Rodrigo Pacheco (DEM) and the journalist and presenter Carlos Viana (PHS) were elect to fill the seats of Aécio Neves (PSDB) and Zezé Perrella (MDB). They had, respectively, 20.49% and 20.22% of the votes. Dinis Pinheiro (SD) place third with 18.42% of the votes, and former president Dilma Rousseff (PT), who had been impeached two years before, placed fourth with 15.35% of the votes.

## Gubernatorial candidates
### Candidates in runoff

| Party | Party | Candidate | Most relevant political office or occupation | Party | Party | Running mate | Coalition | Electoral number |
| | New Party (NOVO) | Romeu Zema (NOVO) | Former Head of Zema Group | | New Party (NOVO) | Paulo Brant (NOVO) | — | 30 |
| | Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) | Antônio Anastasia | Senator for Minas Gerais (2015–2022) | | (PSD) | Marcos Montes (PSD) | Rebuild Minas Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) Social Democratic Party (Brazil, 2011) (PSD) Democrats (DEM) Solidariedade Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) Popular Socialist Party (PPS) Party of National Mobilization (PMN) Social Christian Party (PSC) Christian Labour Party (PTC) Patriota Brazilian Woman's Party (PMB) | 45 |

### Candidates failing to make runoff

| Party | Candidate | Most relevant political office or occupation | Party | Running mate | Coalition | Electoral number |
| Workers' Party (PT) | Fernando Pimentel (PT) | Governor of Minas Gerais (2015–2019) | Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) | Jô Moraes (PCdoB) | On the People's Side Workers' Party (PT) Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) Christian Democracy (DC) | 13 |
| Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) | Adalclever Lopes (MDB) | State Deputy of Minas Gerais (2003–2019) | Green Party (PV) | Adriana Buzelin (PV) | #MinasHasAWay Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) Green Party (PV) Democratic Labour Party (PDT) Podemos (PODE) Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) Brazilian Republican Party (PRB) | 15 |
| United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU) | Jordano Carvalho (PSTU) | Metalworker and steelworker | United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU) | Victoria de Fatima (PSTU) | — | 16 |
| Sustainability Network (REDE) | João Batista dos Mares Guia (REDE) | State Deputy of Minas Gerais (1983–1987) | Sustainability Network (REDE) | Giovanni Corrêa (REDE) | The Best for Minas Sustainability Network (REDE) Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB) | 18 |
| Workers' Cause Party (PCO) | Alexandre Flach | Lawyer | Workers' Cause Party (PCO) | Sebastião Pessoa (PCO) | — | 29 |
| Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) | Dirlene Marques (PSOL) | Retired public worker | Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) | Sara Azevedo | Socialist Minas Front Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) | 50 |
| Avante | Claudiney Dulim (Avante) | Lawyer and professor | Avante | Leandro Ramon (Avante) | — | 77 |

## Opinion polls
### Governor
#### First round

| Pollster/client(s) | Date(s) conducted | Sample size | Anastasia PSDB | Veiga PSDB | Pimentel PT | Zema NOVO | Others | Abst. Undec. | Lead |
| 2018 election | 7 Oct | – | 29.06% | – | 23.12% | 42.73% | 5.09% | 20.67% | 13.67% |
| Datafolha | 3–4 Oct | 1,585 | 32% | – | 21% | 15% | 10% | 22% | 11% |
| Datafolha | 26–28 Sep | 1,387 | 32% | – | 23% | 19% | 7% | 21% | 9% |
| Ibope | 24–26 Sep | 2,002 | 35% | – | 21% | 8% | 8% | 27% | 14% |
| Datafolha | 4–6 Sep | 1,289 | 32% | – | 22% | 5% | 7% | 35% | 10% |
| Ibope | 24–26 Aug | 1,204 | 24% | – | 14% | 3% | 7% | 51% | 10% |
| 2014 election | 5 Oct 2014 | – | – | 41.89% | 52.98% | – | 5.13% | 16.93% | 11.09% |

#### Second round

| Pollster/client(s) | Date(s) conducted | Sample size | Zema NOVO | Anastasia PSDB | Abst. Undec. | Lead |
| 2018 election | 28 Oct | – | 71.80% | 28.20% | 19.61% | 43.60% |
| Ibope | 25–27 Oct | 2,002 | 58% | 27% | 15% | 31% |
| Ibope | 20–23 Oct | 1,512 | 57% | 29% | 15% | 28% |
| Datafolha | 17–18 Oct | 1,473 | 58% | 24% | 19% | 34% |
| Ibope | 15–17 Oct | 1,512 | 57% | 29% | 14% | 28% |
| Paraná Pesquisas | 9–10 Oct | 1,750 | 64.7% | 23.1% | 12.1% | 41.6% |

### Senator

| Pollster/client(s) | Date(s) conducted | Sample size | Rousseff PT | Viana PHS | Pinheiro SD | Pacheco DEM | Neves PSDB | Franco PPS | Others | Abst. Undec. (1st seat) | Abst. Undec. (2nd seat) | Lead |
| 2018 election | 7 Oct | – | 15.35% | 20.22% | 18.42% | 20.49% | – | – | 25.51% | 27.74% | 27.74% | 0.27% |
| Datafolha | 26–28 Sep | 1,384 | 28% | 14% | 10% | 17% | – | – | 41% | 31% | 49% | 11% |
| Ibope | 24–26 Sep | 2,002 | 26% | 15% | 15% | 14% | – | – | 48% | 55% | 63% | 11% |
| Ibope | 9–11 Sep | 1,512 | 28% | 12% | 7% | 7% | – | – | 39% | 20% | 30% | 16% |
| Datafolha | 4–6 Sep | 1,289 | 26% | 11% | 7% | 9% | – | – | 46% | 40% | 61% | 15% |
| Datafolha | 20–21 Aug | 1,214 | 25% | 11% | 5% | 6% | – | – | 53% | 37% | 63% | 14% |
| 2010 election | 3 Oct 2010 | – | – | – | – | – | 39.47% | 26.74% | 33.79% | 19.06% | 19.06% | 12.73% |

## Debates

2018 Minas Gerais gubernatorial election debates :
| No. | Date and time | Hosts | Moderators | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants | Participants |
| Key: P Present A Absent N Not invited W Withdrawn Out Out of the race | Key: P Present A Absent N Not invited W Withdrawn Out Out of the race | Key: P Present A Absent N Not invited W Withdrawn Out Out of the race | Key: P Present A Absent N Not invited W Withdrawn Out Out of the race | NOVO | PSDB | PT | MDB | REDE | PSOL | Avante | PSB |
| Key: P Present A Absent N Not invited W Withdrawn Out Out of the race | Key: P Present A Absent N Not invited W Withdrawn Out Out of the race | Key: P Present A Absent N Not invited W Withdrawn Out Out of the race | Key: P Present A Absent N Not invited W Withdrawn Out Out of the race | Zema | Anastasia | Pimentel | Lopes | Guia | Marques | Dulim | Lacerda |
| 1.1 | Thursday, 16 August 2018, 22:00 | Rede Bandeirantes | Inácia Soares | N | P | P | Out | P | P | P | P |
| 1.2 | Saturday, 18 August 2018, 23:00 | TV Alterosa, Uai | Benny Cohen | N | P | P | P | P | P | P | W |
| 1.3 | Saturday, 29 September 2018, 13:25 | RecordTV, R7, Super Notícia FM | Eduardo Ribeiro | N | P | P | P | P | P | P | W |
| 1.4 | Tuesday, 2 October 2018, 22:05 | TV Globo, G1 | Ismar Madeira | P | P | P | P | N | P | P | W |
| 2.1 | Thursday, 18 October 2018, 22:30 | Rede Bandeirantes | Inácia Soares | P | P | Out | Out | Out | Out | Out | Out |
| 2.2 | Saturday, 18 October 2018, 13:20 | RecordTV, R7, Super Notícia FM | Carla Cecato | P | P | Out | Out | Out | Out | Out | Out |
| 2.3 | Tuesday, 23 October 2018, 17:45 | TV Alterosa, Uai | Benny Cohen | P | A | Out | Out | Out | Out | Out | Out |
| 2.4 | Thursday, 25 October 2018, 22:05 | TV Globo, G1 | Ismar Madeira | P | P | Out | Out | Out | Out | Out | Out |

## Results
### Governor

| Candidate | Candidate | Running mate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Running mate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Romeu Zema | Paulo Brant | NOVO | 4,138,967 | 42.73 | 6,963,806 | 71.80 |
| | Antônio Anastasia | Marcos Montes (PSD) | PSDB | 2,814,704 | 29.06 | 2,734,452 | 28.20 |
| | Fernando Pimentel (incumbent) | Jô Moraes (PCdoB) | PT | 2,239,379 | 23.12 | | |
| | Adalclever Lopes | Adriana Buzelin (PV) | MDB | 268,683 | 2.77 | | |
| | Dirlene Marques | Sara Azevedo | PSOL | 133,986 | 1.38 | | |
| | João Batista dos Mares Guia | Giovanni Corrêa | REDE | 56,856 | 0.59 | | |
| | Claudiney Dulim | Leandro Ramon | Avante | 18,330 | 0.19 | | |
| | Jordano Carvalho | Victoria de Fátima | PSTU | 15,742 | 0.16 | | |
| | Alexandre Flach | Sebastião Pessoa | PCO | 4,088 | | | |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 9,686,647 | 100.00 | 9,698,258 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 9,686,647 | 79.33 | 9,698,258 | 80.39 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 1,726,473 | 14.14 | 1,889,549 | 15.66 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 797,534 | 6.53 | 476,476 | 3.95 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,210,654 | 100.00 | 12,064,283 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 15,695,210 | 77.80 | 15,695,210 | 76.87 |
| | NOVO gain from PT | NOVO gain from PT | NOVO gain from PT | NOVO gain from PT | NOVO gain from PT | NOVO gain from PT | NOVO gain from PT |
| Source: G1 ||||||||
Popular vote (first round)
Zema
42.73%
Anastasia
29.06%
Pimentel
23.12%
Others
5.09% :
Popular vote (second round)
Zema
71.80%
Anastasia
28.20% :

### Senator

| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Rodrigo Pacheco | DEM | 3,616,864 | 20.49 |
| | Carlos Viana | PHS | 3,568,658 | 20.22 |
| | Dinis Pinheiro | Solidariedade | 3,251,175 | 18.42 |
| | Dilma Rousseff | PT | 2,709,223 | 15.35 |
| | Rodrigo Paiva | NOVO | 1,342,645 | 7.61 |
| | Miguel Corrêa | PT | 1,282,946 | 7.27 |
| | Fábio Cherem | PDT | 899,824 | 5.10 |
| | Duda Salabert | PSOL | 351,874 | 1.99 |
| | Elio Lacer | PPL | 307,197 | 1.74 |
| | Tulio Lopes | PCB | 92,165 | 0.52 |
| | Kaka Menezes | REDE | 86,771 | 0.49 |
| | Alcindor Damasceno | PPL | 56,129 | 0.32 |
| | Vanessa Portugal | PSTU | 53,272 | 0.30 |
| | Edson André | Avante | 29,869 | 0.17 |
| | Ana Alves | PCO | 25,675 | |
| Total | Total | Total | 17,648,612 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 17,647,433 | 72.26 |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 4,566,929 | 18.70 |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | Blank votes | 2,206,967 | 9.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,421,329 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 31,390,420 | 77.80 |
| | DEM gain from PSDB | DEM gain from PSDB | DEM gain from PSDB | DEM gain from PSDB |
| | PHS gain from MDB | PHS gain from MDB | PHS gain from MDB | PHS gain from MDB |
| Source: G1 |||||
Popular vote
Pacheco
20.49%
Viana
20.22%
Pinheiro
18.42%
Rousseff
15.35%
Paiva
7.61%
Corrêa
7.27%
Cherem
5.10%
Others
5.53% :

### Chamber of Deputies

| Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Workers' Party | 1,343,833 | 13.33 | 8 | 2 |
| | Social Liberal Party | 1,100,263 | 10.92 | 6 | 6 |
| | Brazilian Social Democracy Party | 769,033 | 7.63 | 5 | 2 |
| | Avante | 616,562 | 6.12 | 3 | 2 |
| | Brazilian Democratic Movement | 610,205 | 6.05 | 4 | 2 |
| | New Party | 461,859 | 4.58 | 2 | New |
| | Social Democratic Party | 457,320 | 4.54 | 3 | |
| | Humanist Party of Solidarity | 394,033 | 3.91 | 2 | 1 |
| | Republican Party of the Social Order | 377,657 | 3.75 | 2 | 2 |
| | Progressistas | 372,000 | 3.69 | 2 | 3 |
| | Party of the Republic | 355,184 | 3.52 | 1 | 2 |
| | Brazilian Republican Party | 354,433 | 3.52 | 2 | 1 |
| | Brazilian Socialist Party | 335,216 | 3.33 | 3 | |
| | Democratic Labour Party | 298,899 | 2.97 | 2 | |
| | Democrats | 285,912 | 2.84 | 1 | 1 |
| | Patriota | 277,469 | 2.75 | 2 | 2 |
| | Socialism and Liberty Party | 241,908 | 2.40 | 1 | 1 |
| | Podemos | 233,631 | 2.32 | 1 | |
| | Social Christian Party | 202,230 | 2.01 | 1 | |
| | Brazilian Labour Party | 148,428 | 1.47 | 0 | 1 |
| | Solidariedade | 131,080 | 1.30 | 1 | |
| | Green Party | 126,374 | 1.25 | 0 | 1 |
| | Brazilian Labour Renewal Party | 115,623 | 1.15 | 0 | |
| | Popular Socialist Party | 108,242 | 1.07 | 0 | |
| | Communist Party of Brazil | 71,706 | 0.71 | 0 | 1 |
| | Christian Democracy | 55,761 | 0.55 | 0 | |
| | Party of National Mobilization | 54,068 | 0.54 | 1 | |
| | Christian Labour Party | 52,458 | 0.52 | 0 | 1 |
| | Sustainability Network | 41,782 | 0.41 | 0 | New |
| | Brazilian Woman's Party | 26,643 | 0.26 | 0 | New |
| | Progressive Republican Party | 23,003 | 0.23 | 0 | 1 |
| | Free Fatherland Party | 17,176 | 0.17 | 0 | |
| | Brazilian Communist Party | 12,247 | 0.12 | 0 | |
| | United Socialist Workers' Party | 5,782 | 0.06 | 0 | |
| Total | Total | 10,078,020 | 100.00 | 53 | – |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 10,078,020 | 82.53 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 1,284,839 | 10.52 | | |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | 848,270 | 6.95 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 12,211,129 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 15,695,210 | 77.80 | | |
| Source: Superior Electoral Court ||||||

### Legislative Assembly

| Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Workers' Party | 1,189,187 | 11.75 | 10 | |
| | Brazilian Democratic Movement | 746,112 | 7.37 | 7 | 3 |
| | Brazilian Republican Party | 724,626 | 7.16 | 3 | 1 |
| | Social Liberal Party | 712,957 | 7.05 | 6 | 6 |
| | Brazilian Social Democracy Party | 668,049 | 6.60 | 7 | 2 |
| | Social Democratic Party | 418,249 | 4.13 | 4 | |
| | Humanist Party of Solidarity | 417,651 | 4.13 | 3 | 2 |
| | Brazilian Labour Party | 398,959 | 3.94 | 3 | 1 |
| | Social Christian Party | 394,159 | 3.90 | 3 | 1 |
| | New Party | 372,346 | 3.68 | 3 | New |
| | Green Party | 336,213 | 3.32 | 5 | 1 |
| | Democrats | 299,902 | 2.96 | 1 | 1 |
| | Solidariedade | 281,184 | 2.78 | 2 | 2 |
| | Podemos | 279,618 | 2.76 | 2 | 1 |
| | Democratic Labour Party | 257,410 | 2.54 | 2 | 2 |
| | Avante | 243,184 | 2.40 | 2 | 1 |
| | Brazilian Socialist Party | 240,779 | 2.38 | 1 | 2 |
| | Brazilian Labour Renewal Party | 221,983 | 2.19 | 1 | 1 |
| | Patriota | 217,775 | 2.15 | 2 | 1 |
| | Communist Party of Brazil | 217,040 | 2.14 | 1 | 2 |
| | Party of the Republic | 201,924 | 2.00 | 2 | 1 |
| | Popular Socialist Party | 199,971 | 1.98 | 1 | 2 |
| | Republican Party of the Social Order | 189,560 | 1.87 | 1 | |
| | Christian Democracy | 177,674 | 1.76 | 1 | 1 |
| | Progressistas | 161,627 | 1.60 | 1 | 2 |
| | Socialism and Liberty Party | 124,439 | 1.23 | 1 | 1 |
| | Progressive Republican Party | 110,356 | 1.09 | 1 | 1 |
| | Christian Labour Party | 104,695 | 1.03 | 0 | 1 |
| | Sustainability Network | 98,796 | 0.98 | 1 | New |
| | Party of National Mobilization | 64,472 | 0.64 | 0 | 1 |
| | Brazilian Communist Party | 19,585 | 0.19 | 0 | |
| | Free Fatherland Party | 14,842 | 0.15 | 0 | |
| | United Socialist Workers' Party | 9,077 | 0.09 | 0 | |
| | Brazilian Woman's Party | 4,741 | 0.05 | 0 | New |
| Total | Total | 10,119,142 | 100.00 | 77 | – |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 10,119,142 | 82.87 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 1,269,867 | 10.40 | | |
| Blank votes | Blank votes | 822,222 | 6.73 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 12,211,231 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 15,695,210 | 77.80 | | |
| Source: Superior Electoral Court ||||||