Sao Paulo governor turns heads on Brazil's right after Bolsonaro election ban

Sao Paulo Governor-Elect Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas attends an inauguration ceremony for new judges of Brazil's Superior Court of Justice in Brasilia, Brazil December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo

BRASILIA (Reuters) - The governor of Brazil's wealthiest and most populous state, Tarcisio de Freitas, has emerged as an early contender to lead conservatives after his mentor, far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, was barred from elected office for eight years.

Although the governor and his closest advisers insist he is focused on serving Sao Paulo state, many of Brazil's seasoned conservative power brokers are already calling the pro-business moderate a natural candidate for the presidency in three years.