Career
Pezão has a degree in Administration and became a politician in the 80s, as councillor of Piraí. He then served two times as mayor of the town. In 2006, Pezão was chosen by Sérgio Cabral, then candidate to the governorship of Rio de Janeiro, to be his running mate.
He assumed the office of governor due to the resignation of Sérgio Cabral, that at the time had plans to run for the senate).
He was reelected governor in the 2014 gubernatorial election, running against former governor Anthony Garotinho, and the senators Lindberg Farias and Marcelo Crivella.