Tomasi to Challenge Giani in Tuscany Regional Race

The center-right coalition has officially chosen Alessandro Tomasi, the mayor of Pistoia, as its candidate for the presidency of Tuscany in the upcoming regional elections. The decision was announced after a meeting of coalition leaders in Florence on August 25. Representatives from Fratelli d’Italia (FdI), the League, Forza Italia and Noi Moderati all endorsed Tomasi’s candidacy.

Tomasi, a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party and its regional coordinator in Tuscany, has been leading Pistoia since 2017. His victory in that election ended 70 years of uninterrupted left-wing rule in one of the region’s traditionally “red” cities. He was re-elected in 2022, this time in the first round, further consolidating his political profile. Now he is aiming to extend that success to the regional stage.

Coalition leaders described Tomasi as a strong and credible alternative to the center-left, pointing to his record in local government and his ability to broaden support beyond the traditional center-right base. Over the past months, he has been traveling across Tuscany to meet voters, attempting to reach moderates and those dissatisfied with the Democratic Party.

The announcement launches the official campaign for the October 12–13 vote. The center-right has never governed Tuscany since the regions were established in 1970, making this election a historic test.
Current polls, however, place Tomasi at a significant disadvantage, with incumbent president Eugenio Giani — backed by the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement — holding a wide lead.

Tomasi’s political career began as a teenager in the youth movements of the right. He entered Pistoia’s city council in 2007, was re-elected in 2011, and later rose through the ranks of FdI before running successfully for mayor.

While smaller parties may still put forward additional names, the regional race is now shaping up as a direct contest between Giani and Tomasi. For the center-right, victory in Tuscany would mean breaking a political tradition that has lasted for over five decades.

For the center-left, however, a defeat would be dramatic. Tuscany has long been considered one of its strongholds, and losing it would be a severe blow not only locally but also nationally. Such a result would put heavy pressure on Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein, who has staked much of her political strategy on forging alliances with the Five Star Movement, both nationally and regionally.

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