Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is running for reelection, greets supporters during a campaign rally in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 2, 2026. AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo
Brazilians headed to the polls on Sunday for a presidential election pitting incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro. Dominating the campaigns are allegations of corruption, concerns over the cost of living, and claims of U.S. influence.
Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth term. Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a prison sentence of more than 27 years over charges of plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss.
Polls show the leading contenders roughly tied in the matchup. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of valid votes, the top two will advance to an Oct. 25 runoff.
Flavio Bolsonaro has promised to seek amnesty for his father and strengthen relations with the United States and Israel. Lula has warned of foreign interference in the election.
The Trump administration has designated Brazil’s major gangs as terrorist organizations. Bolsonaro agreed with the Trump administration, while Lulu rejected it.
A victory for Bolsonaro would add to a number of right-wing Latin American candidates aligned with Trump who have won office in recent years.
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In July, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry under Lula denied visas to two U.S. State Department officials who had sought to travel to the South American country.
The officials, Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes and Deputy Assistant Secretary Samuel Samson had planned to visit in late July.
A State Department spokesperson called the trip routine and described allegations of a plot to undermine the election as baseless. The spokesperson told The Epoch Times the officials planned meetings with government representatives, religious leaders, and civil society to discuss election integrity, religious freedom, and freedom of expression.
The Trump administration announced a 25 percent tariff on some Brazilian imports on July 15, following a yearlong investigation that certain Brazilian trade policies unfairly burden U.S. commerce.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said negotiations with Lula’s government have failed to resolve concerns involving digital trade, intellectual property protections, ethanol market access, and illegal deforestation.
The administration said exemptions would cover products including beef, coffee, crude oil, and aircraft parts.
Brazil criticized the measures, saying there was “no justification” for unilateral tariffs and noting that the United States had a trade surplus with Brazil. Lula’s office said it would challenge the tariffs through the World Trade Organization and pursue measures under Brazil’s reciprocity law.
Reuters contributed to this report.
