The governor of Minas Gerais is the head of the executive branch of the government of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The governor is elected by direct and secret vote for a four-year term, with one consecutive re-election permitted. As of 2026, the office is held by Mateus Simões, who became governor on 22 March 2026 after the resignation of Romeu Zema.
The territory now forming Minas Gerais was first part of the Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais. A royal charter of 9 November 1709 created the Captaincy of São Paulo and Minas de Ouro, separating it from Rio de Janeiro. On 2 December 1720, an alvará issued by John V of Portugal separated Minas Gerais from São Paulo. Minas Gerais became a province of the Empire of Brazil on 28 February 1821 and, after the proclamation of the republic in 1889, a state of the United States of Brazil, later the Federative Republic of Brazil.
Mariana, first known as Ribeirão do Carmo, became the first capital of Minas Gerais. The seat of government later moved to Vila Rica, now Ouro Preto, until the end of the nineteenth century.
In 1897, the seat of government moved to the newly created city of Belo Horizonte, as the old Vila Rica could no longer accommodate the province's economic and population growth. The Palácio da Liberdade was built as the first seat of the Minas Gerais government in Belo Horizonte. Since 2010, the executive branch has been based at the Palácio Tiradentes, in the Cidade Administrativa de Minas Gerais.
The state government is organized into executive, legislative and judicial branches. The Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais is unicameral and has 77 deputies, while the state judiciary is headed by the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais. Minas Gerais is represented in the National Congress of Brazil by three senators and 53 federal deputies.
Colonial governors (1693–1824)
Before Minas Gerais became a province of the Empire of Brazil, the territory passed through several colonial jurisdictions. The mining region was first governed within the Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro, then as the Captaincy of São Paulo and Minas de Ouro, and from 1720 as the separate Captaincy of Minas Gerais.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! No.
! Governor
! Image
! Took office
! Left office
! Notes
|-
! colspan="6" | Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro
|-
| 1
| Antônio Pais de Sande
|
| 25 March 1693
| 19 April 1695
| Acting governor
|-
| 2
| Sebastião de Castro Caldas
|
| 19 April 1695
| 2 April 1697
| Acting governor
|-
| 3
| Artur de Sá e Meneses
|
| 2 April 1697
| 15 July 1702
| Acting governor
|-
| 4
| Álvaro da Silveira e Albuquerque
|
| 15 July 1702
| 1 August 1705
| Acting governor
|-
| 5
| Fernando de Lencastro
|
| 1 August 1705
| 11 June 1709
| Acting governor
|-
| 6
| Antônio Coelho de Carvalho
|
| 11 June 1709
| 18 June 1710
| Acting governor
|-
! colspan="6" | Captaincy of São Paulo and Minas de Ouro
|-
| 1
| Antônio Coelho de Carvalho
|
| 18 June 1710
| 31 August 1713
| Acting governor
|-
| 2
| Brás Baltasar da Silveira
|
| 31 August 1713
| 4 September 1717
| Acting governor
|-
| 3
| Pedro de Almeida Portugal
| center|frameless|100px
| 4 September 1717
| 18 August 1720
| Acting governor; Count of Assumar
|}
Captaincy of Minas Gerais
thumb|The [[Palácio dos Governadores (Ouro Preto)|Palácio dos Governadores in Ouro Preto, used as an official residence and government palace until 1898]]
The Captaincy of Minas Gerais was created in 1720 during the Brazilian gold cycle, after the separation of Minas Gerais from the Captaincy of São Paulo and Minas de Ouro. Its capital was Vila Rica, now Ouro Preto. On 28 February 1821, the captaincy became a province of Brazil, and after the proclamation of the republic it became the present state of Minas Gerais.
Gold made Minas Gerais one of the main economic centers of colonial Brazil in the first half of the eighteenth century, drawing rapid population growth into the mining districts. The movement began in the late seventeenth century, after gold was found in the Serra do Sabarabuçu and in the Carmo and Tripuí streams. In 1696, the settlement of Nossa Senhora do Ribeirão do Carmo was founded; in 1711 it became the first town of Minas Gerais, now Mariana. The gold rush also brought conflicts, including the War of the Emboabas and the Vila Rica Revolt.
| 1 September 1732
|
|-
| 2
| André de Melo e Castro
|
| 1 September 1732
| 26 March 1735
| Count of Galveias
|-
| 3
| Gomes Freire de Andrade
| center|frameless|100px
| 26 March 1735
| 15 May 1736
| 1st Count of Bobadela
|-
| —
| Martinho Proença
|
| 15 May 1736
| 26 December 1737
| Interim acting governor
|-
| 4
| Gomes Freire de Andrade
| center|frameless|100px
| 26 December 1737
| 17 February 1752
| 1st Count of Bobadela
|-
| —
| José António Freire de Andrade
|
| 17 February 1752
| 28 April 1758
| 2nd Count of Bobadela; interim acting governor
|-
| 5
| Gomes Freire de Andrade
| center|frameless|100px
| 28 April 1758
| 1 January 1763
| 1st Count of Bobadela
|-
| —
| Antônio do Desterro<br />José Fernandes Pinto Alpoim<br />João Alberto Castelo Branco
|
| 1 January 1763
| 16 October 1763
| Provisional governing junta
|-
| —
| Antônio Álvares da Cunha
|
| 16 October 1763
| 28 December 1763
| Count of Cunha; interim acting governor
|-
| 6
| Luís Diogo Lobo da Silva
|
| 28 December 1763
| 16 July 1768
|
|-
| 7
| José Luís Castelo Branco
|
| 16 July 1768
| 22 May 1773
| Count of Valadares
|-
| 8
| Antônio Carlos Furtado
|
| 22 May 1773
| 13 January 1775
|
|-
| —
| Pedro Antônio Freitas
|
| 13 January 1775
| 29 May 1775
| Interim acting governor
|-
| 9
| António de Noronha
|
| 29 May 1775
| 20 February 1780
|
|-
| 10
| Rodrigo Meneses e Castro
| center|frameless|100px
| 20 February 1780
| 10 October 1783
| Count of Cavaleiros
|-
| 11
| Luís da Cunha Meneses
|
| 10 October 1783
| 11 July 1788
| Count of Lumiares
|-
| 12
| Luís António Faro
|
| 11 July 1788
| 9 August 1797
| Viscount of Barbacena
|-
| 13
| Bernardo Lorena e Silveira
| center|frameless|100px
| 9 August 1797
| 21 July 1803
| Count of Sarzedas
|-
| 14
| Pedro de Ataíde e Melo
| center|frameless|100px
| 21 July 1803
| 5 February 1810
| Viscount of Condeixa
|-
| 15
| Francisco de Assis Mascarenhas
|
| 5 February 1810
| 11 April 1814
| Count of Palma
|-
| 16
| Francisco Portugal
|
| 11 April 1814
| 21 September 1821
|
|-
| —
| Francisco Portugal (president)<br />José Vasconcelos, Viscount of Caeté (vice president)<br />João Mendes Ribeiro (secretary)
|
| 21 September 1821
| 24 May 1822
| Provisional governing junta
|-
| —
| Francisco Portugal (president)<br />Luís Maria da Silva Pinto (secretary)
| center|frameless|100px
| 24 May 1822
| 29 February 1824
| Provisional governing junta
|}
Presidents of the Province of Minas Gerais (1824–1889)
Before the proclamation of the republic, Minas Gerais was governed as a province of the Empire of Brazil. Its chief executive was the president of the province, appointed under the imperial system. The office was often held for short periods, and acting vice presidents frequently assumed the provincial government between appointments.
;Legend
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! No.
! President of the Province
! Image
! Party
! Took office
! Left office
! Notes
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | First reign (1822–1831)
|- style="background:#ffffdd"
| 1
| José Teixeira Vasconcelos
| center|frameless|100px
| Democratic Party
| 29 February 1824
| 2 May 1826
| Viscount of Caeté
|- style="background:#ffffdd"
| —
| Teotônio Oliveira Maciel
|
| Democratic Party
| 2 May 1826
| 29 May 1826
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ffffdd"
| —
| Francisco Santa Apolônia
|
| Democratic Party
| 29 May 1826
| 6 October 1826
| Vice president; canon; first time
|- style="background:#ffffdd"
| —
| José Teixeira Vasconcelos
| center|frameless|100px
| Democratic Party
| 6 October 1826
| 19 March 1827
| Resumed office; Viscount of Caeté
|- style="background:#ffffdd"
| —
| Francisco Santa Apolônia
|
| Democratic Party
| 19 March 1827
| 18 December 1827
| Vice president; canon; second time
|- style="background:#6495ED"
| 2
| João Mendes Ribeiro
|
| Popular Party
| 18 December 1827
| 18 April 1828
| Judge; first time
|- style="background:#ffffdd"
| —
| Francisco Santa Apolônia
|
| Democratic Party
| 18 April 1828
| 13 October 1828
| Vice president; canon; third time
|- style="background:#6495ED"
| 2
| João Mendes Ribeiro
|
| Popular Party
| 13 October 1828
| 19 April 1829
| Judge; second time
|- style="background:#ffffdd"
| —
| Francisco Santa Apolônia
|
| Democratic Party
| 19 April 1829
| 3 October 1829
| Vice president; canon; fourth time
|- style="background:#6495ED"
| 2
| João Mendes Ribeiro
|
| Popular Party
| 3 October 1829
| 22 April 1830
| President; judge; third time
|- style="background:#E9FFDB"
| 3
| José Manuel de Almeida
|
| Moderate Party
| 22 April 1830
| 3 February 1831
| Marshal
|- style="background:#E9FFDB"
| 4
| Manuel Antônio Galvão
|
| Moderate Party
| 3 February 1831
| 22 April 1831
| Judge
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | Regency period (1831–1840)
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 5
| Manuel Inácio de Mello e Sousa
|
| Conservative Party
| 22 April 1831
| 23 January 1833
| Baron of Pontal; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 23 January 1833
| 21 February 1833
| Vice president; judge; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 5
| Manuel Inácio de Mello e Sousa
|
| Conservative Party
| 21 February 1833
| 22 March 1833
| Baron of Pontal; second time
|- style="background:#E9FFDB"
| —
| Manuel Soares do Couto
| center|frameless|100px
| Moderate Party
| 23 March 1833
| 4 July 1833
| Vice president, acclaimed by military coup; lieutenant colonel
|- style="background:#6495ED"
| 6
| José de Araújo Ribeiro
|
| Popular Party
| 4 July 1833
| 5 November 1833
| Viscount of Rio Grande
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 7
| Antônio Limpo de Abreu
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 5 November 1833
| 31 March 1834
| Viscount of Abaeté; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| João Baptista Leitão
|
| Conservative Party
| 31 March 1834
| 3 December 1834
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 7
| Antônio Limpo de Abreu
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 3 December 1834
| 5 April 1835
| Viscount of Abaeté; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 5 April 1835
| 11 May 1835
| Vice president; judge; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Manuel Inácio de Mello e Sousa
|
| Conservative Party
| 11 May 1835
| 1 June 1835
| Vice president; Baron of Pontal; third time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 8
| José Feliciano Pinto Coelho
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 1 June 1835
| 19 December 1835
| Baron of Cocais
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 9
| Manuel Dias de Toledo
|
| Liberal Party
| 19 December 1835
| 19 April 1836
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Antônio da Costa Pinto
|
| Liberal Party
| 19 April 1836
| 2 October 1836
| Vice president; judge
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 10
| Antônio da Costa Pinto
|
| Liberal Party
| 2 October 1836
| 13 November 1837
| Judge
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 11
| José Cesário de Miranda Ribeiro
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 13 November 1837
| 21 March 1838
| Viscount of Uberaba
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 12
| Bernardo Jacinto da Veiga
|
| Conservative Party
| 21 March 1838
| 22 August 1840
| Councillor; first time
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center;" | Second reign (1840–1889)
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 13
| Sebastião Barreto Pereira
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 22 August 1840
| 7 June 1841
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 14
| Manuel Machado Nunes
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 7 June 1841
| 16 July 1841
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| José Lopes da Silva Viana
|
| Liberal Party
| 16 July 1841
| 15 January 1842
| Vice president; judge; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 15
| Carlos Carneiro de Campos
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 15 January 1842
| 18 April 1842
| Viscount of Caravelas; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Herculano Ferreira Pena
|
| Conservative Party
| 18 April 1842
| 18 May 1842
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 16
| Bernardo Jacinto da Veiga
|
| Conservative Party
| 18 May 1842
| 23 March 1843
| Councillor; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 17
| Francisco Soares de Andréa
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 23 March 1843
| 1 July 1844
| Lieutenant general; Baron of Caçapava
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 18
| João Paulo Barreto
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 1 July 1844
| 17 December 1844
| Brigadier
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Quintiliano José da Silva
|
| Conservative Party
| 17 December 1844
| 1 October 1845
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 19
| Quintiliano José da Silva
|
| Conservative Party
| 1 October 1845
| 29 December 1847
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Pedro Dias de Carvalho
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 29 December 1847
| 14 March 1848
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 20
| Pedro Dias de Carvalho
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 14 March 1848
| 10 April 1848
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Manuel Rebelo Horta
|
| Conservative Party
| 10 April 1848
| 11 May 1848
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Bernardino José de Queiroga
|
| Conservative Party
| 11 May 1848
| 22 June 1848
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 21
| Bernardino José de Queiroga
|
| Conservative Party
| 22 June 1848
| 4 November 1848
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 22
| José Ildefonso Ramos
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 4 November 1848
| 29 November 1849
| Viscount of Jaguari
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Manuel Antônio Pacheco
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 29 November 1849
| 1 March 1850
| Vice president; Baron of Sabará
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 23
| Alexandre Joaquim de Sequeira
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 1 March 1850
| 10 June 1850
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Romualdo Monteiro de Barros
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 10 June 1850
| 17 July 1850
| Vice president; Baron of Paraopeba
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 24
| José Ricardo de Sá Rego
|
| Liberal Party
| 17 July 1850
| 4 April 1851
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Luís Antônio Barbosa
|
| Liberal Party
| 4 April 1851
| 13 January 1852
| Vice president
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 25
| Luís Antônio Barbosa
|
| Liberal Party
| 13 January 1852
| 12 May 1852
| First time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| José Lopes da Silva Viana
|
| Liberal Party
| 12 May 1852
| 24 September 1852
| Vice president; judge; second time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 25
| Luís Antônio Barbosa
|
| Liberal Party
| 24 September 1852
| 19 April 1853
| Second time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| José Lopes da Silva Viana
|
| Liberal Party
| 19 April 1853
| 22 October 1853
| Vice president; judge; third time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 26
| Francisco Pereira de Vasconcelos
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 22 October 1853
| 1 May 1854
| First time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| José Lopes da Silva Viana
|
| Liberal Party
| 1 May 1854
| 6 November 1854
| Vice president; judge; fourth time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 26
| Francisco Pereira de Vasconcelos
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 6 November 1854
| 2 February 1856
| Second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 27
| Herculano Ferreira Pena
|
| Conservative Party
| 2 February 1856
| 1 June 1857
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim Ribeiro da Luz
|
| Conservative Party
| 1 June 1857
| 12 November 1857
| Vice president; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 28
| Carlos Carneiro de Campos
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 12 November 1857
| 1 May 1859
| Viscount of Caravelas; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim Ribeiro da Luz
|
| Conservative Party
| 1 May 1859
| 22 September 1859
| Vice president; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 28
| Carlos Carneiro de Campos
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 22 September 1859
| 22 April 1860
| Viscount of Caravelas; third time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Manuel Teixeira de Sousa
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 22 April 1860
| 3 May 1860
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim Ribeiro da Luz
|
| Conservative Party
| 3 May 1860
| 13 June 1860
| Vice president; third time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 29
| Vicente Pires da Mota
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 13 June 1860
| 2 October 1861
| Priest
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Manuel Teixeira de Sousa
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 2 October 1861
| 25 October 1861
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 30
| José Bento Figueiredo
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 25 October 1861
| 17 May 1862
| Viscount of Bom Conselho
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim Camilo da Mota
|
| Conservative Party
| 17 May 1862
| 3 November 1862
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| José Joaquim Fernandes
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 3 November 1862
| 9 December 1862
| Vice president; first time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 31
| Francisco Pereira de Vasconcelos
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 9 December 1862
| 27 February 1863
| Third time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Manuel Teixeira de Sousa
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 27 February 1863
| 11 March 1863
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; third time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| José Joaquim Fernandes
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 11 March 1863
| 4 June 1863
| Vice president; second time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 32
| João Crispiniano Soares
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 4 June 1863
| 2 April 1864
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Fidélis de Andrade Botelho
|
| Liberal Party
| 2 April 1864
| 26 September 1864
| Vice president
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 33
| Pedro Alcântara Leite
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 26 September 1864
| 18 December 1865
| Baron of São João Nepomuceno
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 34
| Saldanha Marinho
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 18 December 1865
| 24 March 1866
| First time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim José de Santana
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 24 March 1866
| 2 November 1866
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 34
| Saldanha Marinho
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 2 November 1866
| 28 June 1867
| Second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Elias Pinto de Carvalho
|
| Conservative Party
| 28 June 1867
| 24 October 1867
| Vice president
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 35
| José Machado de Sousa
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 24 October 1867
| 10 August 1868
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Manuel Teixeira de Sousa
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 10 August 1868
| 25 August 1868
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; fourth time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 36
| Domingos de Andrade
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 25 August 1868
| 14 May 1869
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 37
| José Maria Benevides
|
| Liberal Party
| 14 May 1869
| 16 May 1870
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Manuel Teixeira de Sousa
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 16 May 1870
| 26 May 1870
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; fifth time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Agostinho Ferreira Bretas
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 26 May 1870
| 27 October 1870
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 38
| Antônio Afonso de Carvalho
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 27 October 1870
| 27 April 1871
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Francisco Leite da Costa Belém
|
| Conservative Party
| 27 April 1871
| 8 November 1871
| Vice president; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 39
| Joaquim Machado Portella
|
| Conservative Party
| 8 November 1871
| 28 April 1872
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Francisco Leite da Costa Belém
|
| Conservative Party
| 28 April 1872
| 11 June 1872
| Vice president; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 40
| Joaquim Floriano de Godói
|
| Conservative Party
| 11 June 1872
| 17 January 1873
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Francisco Leite da Costa Belém
|
| Conservative Party
| 17 January 1873
| 1 March 1873
| Vice president; third time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 41
| Venâncio José de Oliveira Lisboa
|
| Liberal Party
| 1 March 1873
| 27 May 1874
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Francisco Leite da Costa Belém
|
| Conservative Party
| 27 May 1874
| 26 October 1874
| Vice president; fourth time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 42
| João Antônio de Araújo Freitas
|
| Conservative Party
| 26 October 1874
| 6 March 1875
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Francisco Leite da Costa Belém
|
| Conservative Party
| 6 March 1875
| 22 March 1875
| Vice president; fifth time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 43
| Pedro Vicente de Azevedo
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 22 March 1875
| 26 January 1876
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Manuel Teixeira de Sousa
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 26 January 1876
| 10 March 1876
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; sixth time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 44
| Francisco Bonifácio de Abreu
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 10 March 1876
| 1 December 1876
| Baron of Vila da Barra
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Manuel Teixeira de Sousa
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 1 December 1876
| 24 January 1877
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; seventh time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 45
| João Bandeira de Mello
|
| Conservative Party
| 24 January 1877
| 11 February 1878
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Elias Pinto de Carvalho
|
| Conservative Party
| 11 February 1878
| 6 May 1878
| Vice president
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 46
| Francisco Silveira Lobo
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 6 May 1878
| 26 November 1878
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim José de Santana
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 26 November 1878
| 5 January 1879
| Vice president; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 47
| Manuel Rebelo Horta
|
| Conservative Party
| 5 January 1879
| 8 December 1879
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim José de Santana
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 8 December 1879
| 22 January 1880
| Vice president; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 48
| Graciliano Pimentel
|
| Conservative Party
| 22 January 1880
| 24 April 1880
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim José de Santana
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 24 April 1880
| 30 December 1880
| Vice president; third time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| José Francisco Neto
|
| Conservative Party
| 30 December 1880
| 5 May 1881
| Vice president; Baron of Coromandel
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 49
| João Meira de Vasconcelos
|
| Conservative Party
| 5 May 1881
| 12 December 1881
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim José de Santana
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 12 December 1881
| 31 March 1882
| Vice president; fourth time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 50
| Teófilo Ottoni
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 31 March 1882
| 27 December 1882
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Henrique Magalhães
|
| Liberal Party
| 27 December 1882
| 7 March 1883
| Vice president
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 51
| Antônio Gonçalves Chaves
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 7 March 1883
| 22 May 1884
| First time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| Carlos Ottoni
|
| Liberal Party
| 22 May 1884
| 28 May 1884
| Vice president
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| José Antônio Alves
|
| Liberal Party
| 28 May 1884
| 8 June 1884
| Vice president; first time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 51
| Antônio Gonçalves Chaves
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 8 June 1884
| 4 September 1884
| Second time
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| 52
| Olegário Herculano
| center|frameless|100px
| Liberal Party
| 4 September 1884
| 13 April 1885
|
|- style="background:#FFCCCC"
| —
| José Antônio Alves
|
| Liberal Party
| 13 April 1885
| 2 September 1885
| Vice president; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Antônio de Sousa Magalhães
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 2 September 1885
| 19 October 1885
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; first time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 53
| Manuel Portella
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 19 October 1885
| 13 April 1886
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Antônio de Sousa Magalhães
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 13 April 1886
| 1 May 1886
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 54
| Faria Lemos
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 1 May 1886
| 8 June 1886
| First time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Antônio de Sousa Magalhães
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 8 June 1886
| 14 June 1886
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; third time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 55
| Faria Lemos
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 14 June 1886
| 1 January 1887
| Second time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Antônio de Sousa Magalhães
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 1 January 1887
| 4 February 1887
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; fourth time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 56
| Carlos Augusto Figueiredo
|
| Conservative Party
| 4 February 1887
| 9 July 1887
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Antônio de Sousa Magalhães
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 9 July 1887
| 20 August 1887
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; fifth time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 57
| Luís Eugênio Horta
|
| Conservative Party
| 20 August 1887
| 1 June 1888
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Antônio de Sousa Magalhães
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 1 June 1888
| 7 December 1888
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; sixth time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 58
| Antônio Gonçalves Ferreira
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 7 December 1888
| 29 April 1889
|
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Antônio de Sousa Magalhães
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 29 April 1889
| 18 June 1889
| Vice president; Baron of Camargos; seventh time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| —
| Joaquim José de Santana
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 18 June 1889
| 28 June 1889
| Vice president; fifth time
|- style="background:#ddeeff"
| 59
| João Batista dos Santos
| center|frameless|100px
| Conservative Party
| 28 June 1889
| 17 November 1889
| Viscount of Ibituruna
|}
First Brazilian Republic (1889–1930)
The first years of the republic in Minas Gerais were marked by provisional governments and short acting terms before the state presidency became more regularized under the Partido Republicano Mineiro. Antônio Olinto dos Santos Pires briefly held office after the proclamation of the republic, followed by Cesário Alvim and a series of interim administrations involving João Pinheiro, Domingos José da Rocha, Crispim Jacques Bias Fortes, Frederico Álvares da Silva, Augusto de Lima and Eduardo Ernesto da Gama Cerqueira.
From Afonso Pena onward, Minas Gerais was governed mostly by elected PRM presidents serving regular terms, though vice presidents and acting presidents completed unfinished mandates after deaths or resignations. Several state presidents later became major national figures, including Afonso Pena, Venceslau Brás, Delfim Moreira and Artur Bernardes, all of whom served as president of Brazil or, in Delfim Moreira's case, acting president.
Fourth Brazilian Republic and transition to military rule (1945–1966)
The fall of the Estado Novo left Minas Gerais under a short sequence of interim governors and federal interventors before regular elected government resumed. Nísio Batista de Oliveira, João Beraldo, Júlio Ferreira de Carvalho, Noraldino de Lima and Alcides Lins each held office for brief transitional periods between November 1945 and March 1947.
The elected governorship returned with Milton Campos, who served from 1947 to 1951. Juscelino Kubitschek governed from 1951 until 1955, leaving office before the end of his term during his successful campaign for the Brazilian presidency; his vice governor, Clóvis Salgado, completed the mandate. José Francisco Bias Fortes served from 1956 to 1961, followed by Magalhães Pinto, whose term began under the Fourth Republic and continued after the 1964 military coup.
Military dictatorship and transition to the New Republic (1966–1987)
The governorship of Minas Gerais during the military regime passed from the last governor elected under the pre-1965 party system to governors chosen under the rules of the military period. Israel Pinheiro, elected in 1965, took office in 1966 and served until 1971. Rondon Pacheco, Aureliano Chaves and Francelino Pereira governed during the period of indirect state elections, while Ozanam Coelho completed Aureliano Chaves's term after Chaves left the governorship in 1978.
The 1982 election brought Tancredo Neves to the governorship as Brazil moved toward civilian rule. Tancredo left office in August 1984 during his campaign for the presidency of Brazil, and Vice Governor Hélio Garcia completed the term through 1987.
Sixth Brazilian Republic (1985-present)
Hélio Garcia's first mandate continued into the early years of the New Republic, but it is listed in the preceding transition section because it began in 1984. The first full gubernatorial term to begin after the return to civilian rule was Newton Cardoso's 1987–1991 administration. Hélio Garcia returned to the governorship after the 1990 election, followed by Eduardo Azeredo and former president Itamar Franco.
Since 2003, the governorship has alternated among PSDB, PT, NOVO and PSD officeholders. Aécio Neves was elected in 2002 and reelected in 2006, leaving office in 2010; his vice governor, Antônio Anastasia, succeeded him and was elected in his own right later that year. Alberto Pinto Coelho completed Anastasia's term after Anastasia left office in 2014. Fernando Pimentel served from 2015 to 2019, followed by Romeu Zema, who was elected in 2018, reelected in 2022 and left office on 21 March 2026. Vice Governor Mateus Simões took office on 22 March 2026.
Living former governors
As of May 2026, five former governors of Minas Gerais are living, listed in order of service:
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:Eduardo azeredo.jpg||alt=Eduardo Azeredo(1995-1999)Age: 77
File:Aécio Neves 2014-02-20.jpg||alt=Aécio Neves(2003-2010)Age: 66
File:Antonio Anastasia em 2015.jpg||alt=Antonio Anastasia(2010-2014)Age: 65
File:Fernando Pimentel visitando Pezão.jpg||alt=Fernando Pimentel(2015-2019)Age: 75
File:Romeu Zema, December 2024 (cropped).jpg||alt=Romeu Zema(2019-2026)Age: 61
</gallery>
The most recent former governor to die was Newton Cardoso, on 2 February 2025.
Government seats and official residence
<gallery mode="packed" heights="120" caption="Government seats and official residence of Minas Gerais">
File:OuroPreto-PalacioGovernadores.JPG|Palácio dos Governadores in Ouro Preto, the former capital of Minas Gerais.
File:Palácio da Liberdade em Belo Horizonte.jpg|Palácio da Liberdade, the seat of government after the transfer of the capital to Belo Horizonte.
File:Cidade Administrativa MG 1.jpg|Palácio Tiradentes, the current seat of the executive branch at the Cidade Administrativa de Minas Gerais.
File:PalácioMangabeiras.jpg|Palácio das Mangabeiras, the governor's official residence until 2019.
</gallery>
See also
- Governor of Minas Gerais
- Vice Governor of Minas Gerais
- Legislative Assembly of Minas Gerais
- Court of Justice of Minas Gerais
- Cidade Administrativa de Minas Gerais
- Palácio da Liberdade
- Palácio das Mangabeiras
- List of current state governors in Brazil
- List of governors of Brazilian states