Senator Cleitinho Azevedo (Republicanos) has taken a decisive lead in the gubernatorial race for Minas Gerais, Brazil's second-most populous and economically vital state, according to a new AtlasIntel poll released Tuesday. Azevedo, a first-term Senator and former state deputy, registered 41% of the vote intention in the first round, placing him 11 percentage points ahead of his nearest rival, veteran Workers' Party (PT) politician Patrus Ananias, who polled at 30%. The AtlasIntel survey of 1,804 voters, conducted between August 30 and September 4, 2026, also showed Azevedo leading in all simulated second-round matchups, confirming his status as the frontrunner in one of the country’s most consequential state elections.