<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) —</strong> Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, and Brazil’s incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will compete in a runoff election on October 25 after neither candidate secured a majority in Sunday’s vote.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The country’s electoral court in Brasilia reported that neither the 80-year-old incumbent, seeking his fourth non-consecutive term, nor the 45-year-old son of former President Jair Bolsonaro received the majority vote required for an outright victory.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">With 99.8 percent of the votes counted, Bolsonaro received just over 56 million votes compared to Lula’s 53.7 million. The next presidential term is scheduled to begin on January 5.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The winner will govern Latin America’s largest economy, which has a population of 214 million. A victory for Bolsonaro could increase U.S. influence in the region, while a win for Lula may maintain Brazil's distance from Washington and strengthen ties with China.</p>
<p class="has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Lula Faces a Tough Battle</strong></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Flávio Bolsonaro addressed supporters outside his Brasilia residence, stating, “Brazil wants change, that’s the reading of what happened today. It’s the end of the Workers’ Party era,” referring to Lula’s party.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lula expressed surprise at the results, stating, “Tomorrow we start a new campaign. I am very good in the knockout stage. We will see who has the best plan.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Both candidates have three weeks to appeal to moderate voters who did not support them in the first round. Augusto Cury, who finished third with 3.4 million votes, announced he would not endorse either candidate in the runoff. Ronaldo Caiado and Renan Santos, who collectively received about 5.3 million votes, have also stated they will not endorse.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the upcoming campaign, Lula is expected to leverage the popularity of his social policies and highlight his opponent’s legal challenges.</p>
<p class="has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Image Problems for Both Candidates</strong></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While Lula's approval ratings declined during his third term, his stance against the U.S. has bolstered his support among certain groups. He retains a strong base of supporters who credit his social policies with improving the lives of many Brazilians.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Conversely, Bolsonaro faces challenges due to an affordability crisis and a corruption scandal involving the same justice who led the investigation into him.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Bolsonaro is likely to focus on affordability issues and link Lula to corruption scandals. He has promised to combat Brazilian criminal groups and emphasized the need for better deals with the Trump administration, particularly in the rare minerals economy.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Both candidates are facing significant disapproval, with approximately half of Brazil’s population expressing dissatisfaction with the Bolsonaro family and Lula’s Workers’ Party.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Four years ago, Lula defeated then-incumbent Jair Bolsonaro by about 2.1 million votes.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Political scientist Mayra Goulart noted that while Bolsonaro had a successful night, Lula should focus on the votes for Cury and Caiado to reduce abstention.</p>
<p class="has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Voters to Choose Between Incumbent or Return to Right</strong></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Alvaro Senra, a 65-year-old history professor and Lula supporter, expressed mixed feelings about the results, stating, “I think this is the result of conservatives working under the radar, including by neo-Pentecostal churches. But I think Lula can still win.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Maria Ribeiro, a 50-year-old cellphone vendor, expressed her support for Flávio Bolsonaro, citing her desire for freedom to express her evangelical religion. Conversely, Lorena Zschaber, a 40-year-old photographer, voiced concerns about the implications of Flávio Bolsonaro’s election for the LGBTQ+ community.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rosângela Resende da Rocha, a 69-year-old former stay-at-home mom, supported Lula’s social policies aimed at helping the less fortunate and his opposition to Trump.</p>
<p class="has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Confidence in Brazil’s Electronic Voting System</strong></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">No significant fraud has been detected since Brazil implemented its electronic voting system in the 1990s. The Organization of American States’ electoral observation mission reported that voting proceeded smoothly and under adequate safety conditions. Electoral authorities assured that electronic votes are secure and verifiable.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Voters expressed confidence that the voting system is tamper-proof. Josemar Lauriano Pereira, a 46-year-old lawyer, noted that the quick availability of results helps mitigate doubts about the integrity of the election.</p>