Lula wins fourth term after 10.4 million new voters turn out

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured his fourth term as Brazilian president after winning Sunday's runoff with more than 64 million votes. His opponent, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, received just under 60 million votes. The gap is nearly 4 percent. This outcome is already facing a legal challenge. Flavio Bolsonaro plans to request an annulment of the election. President Donald Trump also questioned the result, calling it rigged without providing evidence.

The path to this victory began with a chaotic extension of voting hours on Sunday. A Supreme Court justice ordered the extension minutes before polls were set to close at 5 p.m. Both candidates had requested the change. Lula cited public transportation issues in Sao Paulo and Salvador. Flavio Bolsonaro cited heavy rains in the south. The sudden decision disrupted the usual counting process. Many polling stations learned of the change only as they were preparing to close.

The extension allowed for a surge in voter turnout. An additional 14.1 million people voted in the second round compared to the first. Analysts estimate that three-quarters of those extra votes went to Lula. This mobilization shifted the outcome. The first round had set a record for abstentions. The second round had the least number of abstentions ever recorded. Lula's campaign credited a new social media strategy for reaching these voters. Lawmaker André Janones led a digital push using a WhatsApp channel called Lula's Army. That channel gathered almost 11 million people. Janones adopted an aggressive messaging style to pressure Meta to end alleged algorithmic bias against the incumbent.

Lula is expected to take office on Jan. 5, 2027. He will serve his fourth non-consecutive term. His election counters a trend of right-wing leaders in the region aligning with the United States. Flavio Bolsonaro promised to work closely with the Trump administration. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt. He unsuccessfully contested the 2022 election against Lula. Flavio Bolsonaro visited his father under house arrest on Monday.

President Kassio Nunes, who heads Brazil's electoral authority, recognized Lula's victory on Sunday. Nunes was appointed to the Supreme Court by Jair Bolsonaro. Brian Winter, a Brazil analyst at Americas Quarterly, said important power brokers in Brazil are closing ranks behind Lula. He noted that a contested election path is difficult because of the clear margin of victory. Benjamin Gedan of the Stimson Center said false fraud claims are becoming common but remain dangerous. He pointed to the quick recognition of the result by conservative leaders in the region.

Lula faces challenges in the coming months. He will govern alongside a right-wing Congress where the Bolsonaro party holds the most seats. Flavio Bolsonaro remains a senator until January. The country also faces political polarization and a possible fiscal crisis. Winter warned that the Bolsonaro family can make life difficult for the president for weeks and months to come.