Flávio Bolsonaro's First-Round Lead Fades in Brazil's Presidential Runoff

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro lost Brazil's presidential election after leading in the first round, as his campaign's victory-focused tone failed to mobilize undecided voters who ultimately secured President Lula's re-election. Flávio's lead after the first round led his team to speak primarily to existing supporters, while Lula's campaign prioritized mobilizing abstainers, boosting turnout to a 20-year high for a runoff. Flávio's proposals to change constitutional rules and provocative debate performances also revived democratic concerns. The senator has left for the United States following the defeat, with analysts attributing his loss to misreading the electorate's shift between rounds, rather than solely to economic or cultural factors.