The 2020 Belo Horizonte municipal election took place in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, taking place on 15 November 2020 in a single round. Voters voted to elect the Mayor, the Vice Mayor and 41 city councillors for the administration of the city. The result was a single round victory for incumbent mayor Alexandre Kalil of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), winning 784,307 votes and a share of 63.36% of the popular, defeating state deputy Bruno Engler of the Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB), who took 123,215 votes and a share of 9.95% of the popular vote.

Originally, the elections would occur on 4 October (first round) and 25 October (second round, if necessary). However, with the growing of cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, the dates were delayed.

Political context and pandemic The 2020 municipal elections were directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the parties to remodel their campaign strategies. The Superior Electoral Court authorized the parties to do digital conventions, in order to avoid crowds. Some parties launched their pre-candidacies through digital media. Besides that, from this election, the Constitutional Amendment 97/2017 took force, prohibiting party coalitions in legislative elections (federal, state or municipal).

Candidates Party Candidate Most recent political office or occupationPartyRunning mateMost recent political office or occupationCoalitionElectoral number Republicans Lafayette de Andrada State Deputy from Minas Gerais(since 2019) Republicans Marlei Rodrigues No prior political office n/a10 Workers' Party (PT) Nilmário Miranda Secretary of Human Rights(2003–2005) Workers' Party (PT) Luana de Souza No prior political office n/a13 United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU) Wanderson Rocha No prior political office United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU) Firminia Rodrigues No prior political office n/a16 Cidadania João Vítor Xavier State Deputy from Minas Gerais(since 2011)Democrats (DEM) Leonardo Bortoletto No prior political officeTrue BHCidadania, DEM, PSB, PL, PMN, PSL, PODE, PSC, PTB23Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB) Bruno Engler State Deputy of Minas Gerais(since 2019)Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB) Mauro Quintão No prior political office n/a28 Workers' Cause Party (PCO) Marilia Domingues No prior political office Workers' Cause Party (PCO) Silvanio Vilaça No prior political office n/a29 New Party (NOVO) Rodrigo Paiva No prior political office New Party (NOVO) Patrícia Albergaria No prior political office n/a30 Brazilian Woman's Party (PMB) Edmar Xavier No prior political office Brazilian Woman's Party (PMB) Paula Maia No prior political office n/a35 Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) Luisa Barreto No prior political office Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) Juvenal Araújo Acting Minister of Human Rights(2018) n/a45 Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) Áurea Carolina Federal Deputy from Minas Gerais(since 2019) Popular Unity (UP) Leonardo Péricles No prior political office Left-wing Front BH in MovementPSOL, UP, PCB50Patriota Marcelo Souza e Silva No prior political officePatriota Leandro Moreira No prior political office n/a51 Social Democratic Party (PSD) Alexandre Kalil Mayor of Belo Horizonte(2017–2022) Social Democratic Party (PSD) Fuad Noman Secretary of Finances(2017–2020) Courage and LabourPSD, MDB, PV, REDE, Avante, PDT, DC, PP55 Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) Wadson Ribeiro Federal Deputy from Minas Gerais(2011–2019) Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) Kátia Vergilio No prior political office n/a65Solidariedade Wendel de Mesquita State Deputy of Minas Gerais(since 2019)Solidariedade Sandra Bini No prior political office n/a77 Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) Fabiano Cazeca No prior political office Christian Labour Party (PTC) Paula Gomes No prior political office The Competence BH NeedsPROS, PTC90

Opinion polls Published after the campaign's start Pollster/client(s) Date(s)conducted Samplesize Kalil Xavier Carolina Paiva Engler Others Abst.Undec. Lead 2020 election 15 Nov 1,237,764 63.36% 9.22% 8.33% 3.63% 9.95% 9.12% 11.12% 53.41%Datafolha10–11 Nov1,036 63% 8% 5% 2% 4% 6% 14% 55% 55% 8% 5% 1% 3% 6% 25% 50% Ibope 7–9 Nov 1,001 59% 7% 3% 1% 1% 5% 22% 52% Datafolha 3–4 Nov 868 65% 7% 6% 1% 4% 8% 14% 58% 57% 4% 3% – 2% 5% 29% 53% Ibope 26–29 Oct 1,001 63% 8% 5% 1% 3% 6% 22% 55% Datatempo/CP2 26–29 Oct 1,500 63.6% 5.5% 3.0% 1.4% 3.4% 7.0% 16.1% 58.1% 58.9% 2.7% 1.9% 0.7% 1.9% 3.3% 30.6% 56.2% Paraná Pesquisas 20–23 Oct 802 59.5% 8.0% 4.6% 2.0% 3.9% 4.9% 16.9% 50.9%Datafolha20–21 Oct868 60% 7% 5% 1% 3% 8% 14% 53% 49% 3% 3% – 2% 5% 37% 46%RealTime BigData14–17 Oct1,050 56% 7% 6% 4% 4% 4% 19% 49% 47% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 45% 45% Ibope 13–15 Oct 1,001 59% 7% 3% 1% 1% 5% 22% 52%Datatempo/CP212–14 Oct800 64.8% 4.4% 3.3% 1.2% 1.7% 5.5% 19.4% 60.4% 58.4% 1.5% 1.9% 0.5% 1.0% 2.8% 35.2% 56.5%Datafolha5–6 Oct800 56% 6% 3% 2% 3% 9% 20% 50% 37% 1% 2% 1% 1% 5% 53% 35%Ibope30 Sep–2 Oct805 58% 4% 3% 2% 3% 8% 23% 54% 43% 1% 2% – 2% 5% 47% 41%

Published before the campaign's start Pollster/client(s) Date(s)conducted Samplesize Kalil Xavier Carolina Paiva Engler Others Abst.Undec. Lead Paraná Pesquisas 25–29 Sep 820 56.5% 6.6% 4.5% 3.0% 2.4% 9.4% 18.1% 49.9%Paraná Pesquisas22–25 Jul820 55.9% 6.5% 4.1% 3.0% 2.1% 7.0% 21.2% 49.4% 56.5% 6.7% 4.4% 3.7% 2.1% 10.6% 21.7% 49.8%

Results Mayor

Municipal Chamber

Notes

References