Janones reshapes Lula's campaign and takes lead in Brazil's digital fight
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was re-elected to a fourth term on Sunday, defeating Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, with digital campaign strategist André Janones playing a pivotal role in the victory. Janones led a 24-hour "Live da Virada" broadcast on Lula's YouTube channel, mobilizing nearly 11 million WhatsApp members in the "Exército do Lula" and shifting the campaign's tone to a more aggressive, war-themed strategy after the first round. His efforts were praised by officials, though he faces past legal issues, including a payment agreement over salary kickback allegations. The campaign's digital push, which included Google search prompts during debates, was credited with reversing Lula's polling deficit, with experts calling Janones' approach unprecedented for the Brazilian left.