Brazil's Presidential Runoff: Lula and Bolsonaro in a Dead Heat

Brazil held the second round of its presidential election on Saturday, with incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva facing conservative challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a tightly contested race. Thousands of supporters held final rallies in major cities, underscoring deep divisions in Latin America's largest nation. Flávio, son of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, unexpectedly led the first round with 47% of the vote against Lula's 45%. Lula is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term. At Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach, Lula addressed a sea of red-clad supporters, while Flávio rallied thousands in Belo Horizonte, a key electoral bellwether state. A Datafolha poll released Thursday showed both candidates tied at 50% support. In their final televised debate Friday night, they exchanged sharp attacks, with Lula questioning his rival's experience and Flávio portraying Lula as a relic of the past. The election is being closely watched across Latin America, where several nations have shifted rightward since Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025.