The Bolsonaro family achieved significant electoral success across Brazil in recent polls, consolidating their political influence amid a shifting national landscape. Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, emerged as a leading figure by capturing 47% of the vote in the first round of the presidential race, narrowly surpassing incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who received 45%. The two candidates are set to face each other again in a run-off election scheduled for October 25.
Flavio, a 45-year-old senator, has been positioned by his father to carry forward the family’s political agenda after Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of plotting a coup and subsequently barred from running for office until 2030. The family’s right-wing Liberal Party made notable gains in the Senate, securing 19 of the 54 available seats, becoming the largest single bloc, though it fell short of an outright majority.
Other members of the Bolsonaro clan also won key legislative seats. Michelle Bolsonaro, Jair’s wife, garnered the highest vote total among senatorial candidates in the Federal District of Brasilia, reinforcing speculation that she could mount a presidential campaign in 2030. Jair’s second son, Carlos Bolsonaro, 43, won the second-highest number of senatorial votes in Santa Catarina state, while the youngest son, Jair Renan Bolsonaro, 28, was elected as a federal deputy in the same region. Additionally, Jair’s brother Renato Bolsonaro, 62, secured a federal deputy seat in Sao Paulo.
Should Flavio Bolsonaro win the presidency, he would benefit from having two senators and two federal deputies from his family within Congress, potentially bolstering his capacity to achieve political goals. Among these is a campaign promise to secure amnesty for his father, a move that would require approval from both legislative chambers.
Despite the Bolsonaro family’s gains, political analysts note that if Lula wins re-election, he may face significant challenges in advancing his policy agenda due to the conservative majority now present in both houses of the Brazilian Congress. The outcome of the upcoming run-off election and subsequent balance of power in the legislature will play a critical role in shaping Brazil’s political direction in the coming years.