In this election, four million citizens from the state of Goiás were eligible to vote to determine the successor to incumbent Governor Alcides Rodrigues, from the center-right Progressive Party (PP).

During his administration, Rodrigues parted ways with his predecessor, and went on to support the candidacy of Vanderlan Cardoso, the former mayor of Senador Canedo, from the Republic Party (PR).

Despite the Governor's support for Cardoso, the leading candidates were former Governors Iris Rezende of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), and Marconi Perillo of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB).

As none of the candidates received more than half of the valid votes, a run-off was held on October 31, 2010.

On October 3, citizens from Goiás voted for their representatives in both Federal (Chamber of Deputies and Senate) and local level (Legislative Assembly) legislatures, in addition to the next President of Brazil.