Brazil's Lula vs Bolsonaro runoff to shape US influence in Latin America

Brazilians are voting in a presidential runoff between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, a race that will shape US influence in Latin America. Polls show the contest is extremely close. Bolsonaro, an ally of President Donald Trump, won the first round by over 2.2 million votes, while Lula faces challenges from cost-of-living concerns. The candidates hold starkly opposing views on US relations, climate policy, and social welfare, with Bolsonaro promising amnesty for his imprisoned father and Lula warning of democratic threats. A Bolsonaro win would mark a rightward shift in the region's largest economy, following Trump ally victories in Chile, Peru, and Colombia. The next president will also appoint at least three Supreme Court justices, and Lula has criticized US tariffs and sanctions as election interference.