Sao Paulo mayoral election

In a closely contested first round of voting for the São Paulo mayoral election, incumbent center-right Mayor Ricardo Nunes and leftist Congressman Guilherme Boulos will advance to a runoff on October 27, leaving far-right candidate Pablo Marçal out of the race. Nunes garnered 29.49% of the vote, closely followed by Boulos with 29.04%, while Marçal received 28.14%. Boulos, who ran the most expensive campaign with significant backing from President Lula's Workers' Party, is focusing on housing and education reforms, while Nunes has promised to enhance public transportation and safety measures. The election has been marred by violence, including physical altercations during debates and controversial social media posts by Marçal. The political landscape is shifting towards conservative candidates as both Lula and former President Bolsonaro cautiously navigate their endorsements. The runoff will be critical in shaping the future political dynamics ahead of Brazil's presidential race in 2026.