In 1990, he became the first state deputy to be elected by the PT in the state. He was re-elected in 1994. He tried for mayor of the capital in 1992, but failed to reach the second round. He contested, in court, the result of the 1996 election, in which he lost again, this time, by only 411 votes.[1]
He ran for governor of Mato Grosso do Sul, in the 1998 elections, jumping from 2% of the voting intentions, in the polls, to a victory of 61% of the valid votes, in the second round. He was re-elected in 2002, with 53% of the valid votes. In 2005, he was admitted by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of the same party, to the Order of Military Merit in the rank of Special Grand Officer.[2]
As governor of Mato Grosso do Sul, he updated the civil service payroll, granted teachers a significant increase, the entire road network in the State was recovered during his government, CASSEMS - Caixa de Assistência ao Servidor de Mato Grosso do Sul has become one of the best health plans in the state.
In the 2014 elections, he was elected federal deputy, winning 160,556 votes, taking first place. Almost twice as much as those won by the runner-up.[3]
