Flávio Dino

Flávio Dino de Castro e Costa (born 30 April 1968) is a Brazilian attorney, Supreme Court Justice, politician and professor. A former federal judge, Dino was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 2006 under the Communist Party banner, serving a four-year term until 2011, representing the state of Maranhão. He was elected as the governor of Maranhão after running in the 2014 election. He became the governor of Maranhão on 1 January 2015. He was reelected in 2018. In 2021, Dino left the Communist Party to join the Socialist Party, and was appointed Minister of Justice by President Lula.

Dino also served 3 years as president of Embratur, a federal agency promoting Brazilian tourism, between his legislative term and gubernatorial term. Dino was considered a leading left-wing candidate in the 2022 presidential election but chose to forgo a candidacy, instead choosing to run for Senate.

While performing his duty as Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino was nominated by President Lula to the Supreme Court of Brazil, being sworn in office on 22 February 2024 after his confirmation by the Brazilian Senate.

Early life and family
Flávio Dino de Castro e Costa was born in São Luís on 30 April 1968.

Flávio graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1991, and returned to the Federal University of Maranhão in 1993 as a professor. While working as a professor, Dino got involved with the university's activist scene, and later began advising the university's workers unions.

Federal judge
Starting in 1994, Dino became a federal judge, ranking first in among the applicants.

From 2000 to 2002, he served as the chair of the National Association of Federal Judges (AJUFE). During his time as a judge, Dino also served as the Secretary-General of the National Council of Justice (CNJ).

In 2006, he resigned from his position as a judge, and decided to devote himself to politics instead.

2008 São Luís mayoral election
In 2008, he ran for election as the mayor of São Luís, but was defeated by João Castelo of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB).

2010 Maranhão gubernatorial election
Flávio Dino ran in the 2010 Maranhão gubernatorial election, but lost to Roseana Sarney of the Brazilian Democratic Movement.

2014 Maranhão gubernatorial election
Dino ran again in the 2014 Maranhão gubernatorial election. He campaigned on promises of anti-corruption, expanding clean water access, launching a housing construction and renovation program, and improving public security. In 2014, he was elected as the state's governor in the first round of the election, with 63.52 percent of the valid votes.

2018 Maranhão gubernatorial election
Dino ran for re-election in the and won, with 59.29% of the vote in the first round.

2022 Maranhão senatorial election
Dino resigned as the governor of Maranhão on 2 April 2022, in order to run in the 2022 Maranhão gubernatorial election as a candidate for the Federal Senate.