Lula's surprise gains in Bolsonaro strongholds expose weak governors

President Lula da Silva made unexpected gains in the second round of voting in five states considered Bolsonaro strongholds, including Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Goiás, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo, where allied governors failed to deliver promised support. The governors, who had publicly pledged hundreds of thousands of votes to Flávio Bolsonaro, largely disappeared after the results, with analysis showing many of their voters migrated to Lula instead. No evidence of fraud has emerged, and Lula's victory was boosted by mobilization efforts led by André Janones. The article also notes Fernando Haddad's quiet decline within the PT, while Michelle Bolsonaro's limited campaign involvement and last-minute reminder of Jair Bolsonaro's imprisonment may have inadvertently aided Lula's performance.