In 1992, Genro was elected to the position of Mayor of Porto Alegre, though he lost reelection in 1996. In 1998, he was speculated to be a potential presidential candidate for the PT in the place of Lula, though Lula ended up running
In 1992, Genro became the mayor of Porto Alegre, but failed to win reelection four years later. By 1998, he had been mentioned as a potential alternative to Lula for the PT presidential nomination, but ultimately Lula decided to run himself.