The campaign for the Government of Amazonas reached the final stretch with a dispute marked by proposals to face the state's historical problems, such as the difficulty of transport between municipalities, the dependence on river navigation, the precariousness of public services in the interior and the need to create new alternatives for the economy.
Over the course of 45 days, the candidates also brought to debates and campaign events topics that directly affect the population, such as health, education, public safety, as well as environmental problems such as fires, smoke from fires that affect air quality, floods and droughts. Changes in legislation to allow mineral exploration in the state were also at the center of discussions.
Seven candidates are running for Government of Amazonas in this year's elections: Omar Aziz (PSD), Professor Maria do Carmo (PL), Roberto Cidade (União), Cabo Daciolo (Mobiliza), David Almeida (Avante), Gilberto Vasconcelos (PSTU) and Isael Munduruku (PSOL/Rede Federation).
g1 carried out a survey based on interviews, debates, campaign events and publications by candidates on social media to take stock of the themes that dominated the dispute.
Economy
The economy gained space in the campaign, especially in discussions about Amazonas' dependence on the Manaus Free Zone and the search for new activities that can generate jobs and income. Mineral exploration was one of the points that provoked the most discussion, with proposals for changes in legislation to expand activity in the state, including the exploration of rare earths.
Job creation appeared in proposals such as first job programs, paid internships and initiatives related to recycling. The economic discussions were also accompanied by criticism among opponents about measures adopted in previous administrations, private ventures and decisions taken throughout the candidates' political trajectory.
Logistics
Another problem that plagued the campaign was the difficulty of reaching the interior of Amazonas. The reality of a state where many municipalities depend almost exclusively on river transport has brought BR-319, which connects Amazonas to Rondônia, to the center of discussions about infrastructure.
On this topic, all the candidates who participated in debates and hearings argued that the road needs to be paved, with disagreements about how the process will take place.
The candidates also presented proposals to expand the airport structure and improve transport via rivers. The difficulties faced during periods of flood and drought reinforced this debate.
Dredging rivers and other measures to reduce the isolation of cities appeared as alternatives presented by candidates to deal with the effects of climate extremes.
Health and education
In health, one of the main points of discussion was the waiting time faced by patients who need care through the public network. The National Regulation System (SisReg) queue was mentioned during the campaign and was even called by candidates the “death queue”.
Proposals for the area included construction and renovation of hospitals and maternity wards, expansion of care in the interior and appreciation of health professionals. The debate also highlighted the difficulty of bringing specialized services to municipalities far from Manaus.
Education followed a similar path. The candidates defended the expansion of full-time schools, improvements in the structure of units and the appreciation of workers in the area. Care for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also appeared in the proposals, with the defense of specialized teams and training of professionals.
The performance of Amazonian students was used as an argument in criticism made during the campaign. According to the 2025 State Competitiveness Ranking, prepared by the Public Leadership Center (CLP), Amazonas had the lowest average Enem score among the 27 states, with 505.3 points. The data refers to the performance of students in the 2024 exam.
Public safety
Public safety was another constant theme in the speeches. The fight against drug trafficking, organized crime and illegal mining appeared associated with proposals to increase personnel, enhance professionals and expand the use of technology by security forces.
Rivers also entered this discussion. The candidates defended different measures to reinforce inspection and policing in areas considered strategic, including the expansion of security bases at points along the state's river network.
Fires and smoke
The smoke that hit Manaus and other cities in Amazonas during the election period placed environmental issues at the center of the campaign. The debate included fires, deforestation, inspection, illegal mining and climate change.
The discussion also turned to the challenge of reconciling forest preservation with the creation of new economic activities. At this point, the candidates presented different proposals on the exploration of natural resources, environmental inspection and sustainable development.
Attacks between adversaries
As the campaign progressed, the proposals began to share space with criticism and attacks between the candidates. The movement became more intense in the two weeks preceding the first round, when actions by previous governments, decisions by state and municipal administrations and political positions by opponents began to occupy a significant part of the speeches.
In addition to the themes that dominated the debates, culture, tourism, sanitation and housing also appeared throughout the campaign, but less frequently.
Overall, the dispute for the Government of Amazonas was marked by the candidates' attempt to present answers to problems that go beyond Manaus and mainly affect those who live in the interior: the difficulty of commuting, access to health and education services, safety in rivers and communities, the effects of floods and droughts and the search for economic alternatives to reduce dependence on a few sectors.
