How Lula's WhatsApp army helped him win Brazil's election

Lula da Silva secured a fourth term as Brazil's president after gaining ten million more votes in the runoff than in the first round, aided by a digital strategy that included a WhatsApp channel with nearly 11 million followers. Deputy André Janones led the digital campaign, creating the 'Exército do Lula' channel in April, which grew from 55,000 members to 10.8 million after the first vote. The strategy focused on coordinating supporters to engage with content across platforms, avoiding direct interaction with right-wing misinformation. The left's digital push was inspired by Bolsonaro's established influencer network, which had 110 million Instagram followers versus Lula's 30 million. Experts say the channel integrated with other media to mobilize voters, while the campaign also promoted verified information as a counter to disinformation.