Brazil's runoff pits Lula against Bolsonaro as U.S. influence in Latin America hangs in the balance

Brazilians voted Sunday in a tense presidential runoff between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, a race that will determine whether the U.S. expands its influence in Latin America. Polls showed the candidates in a neck-and-neck contest. Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, beat Lula by over 2.2 million votes in the first round, with more than 33 million voters abstaining. The rivals hold opposing views on U.S. relations, climate change, and social welfare, with security and cost-of-living concerns dominating the campaign. A Bolsonaro win would mark a rightward shift for Latin America's largest economy, while a Lula victory would align Brazil with Mexico's leftist leadership. Bolsonaro faces corruption investigations, and Lula has portrayed his rival as a threat to democracy. Results are expected hours after polls close.