Reading Time: 2 minutesThis article is adapted from AQ’s special report on Latin America’s space race
AQ: What are the top issues in this year’s general election?
TT: The most important thing is polarization. The polarization we saw in 2018 grew in 2022, and it is still extremely powerful. You have President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on one side, and Flávio Bolsonaro on the other, and both are extremely loved and hated figures. Public security, corruption, inflation, the relationship with the United States, and even Lula’s health will also be very important issues.
AQ: How are long-term voting trends playing out in the 2026 race?
TT: Over the last 20 years, more women have been voting, and the electorate has become older and more educated. In Brazil, evangelicals mostly vote for the right, and Catholics mostly vote for the left. Data on religion became available recently since the census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People expected evangelicals would be more than 30% of the population, but they reached only 27%, with Catholics at 57%. Many people think that because many evangelical leaders grew so close to politics and bolsonarismo, this drew some people away.
