Brazil votes in local elections with eyes on 2026 presidential showdown

SAO PAULO: Brazilians voted on Sunday for mayors and city councilors in more than 5,500 municipal elections, with polls showing conservative candidates running strong in several major cities, setting the country’s political landscape ahead of a 2026 presidential race.

All eyes are on the mayoral vote in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, where three candidates are running neck and neck after an aggressive campaign, setting the stage for a second-round runoff on Oct 27.

Center-right incumbent Mayor Ricardo Nunes, who led the race until last week, is tied for second place at 26 percent of the votes with far-right digital influencer Pablo Marçal, an unprecedented split in the conservative vote, according to a poll on Saturday.