Brazil 2026 elections: Bolsonaro’s party sweeps Senate and state elections

Jair Bolsonaro's son, Flávio, secured victory in the first round of Brazil's 2026 elections, leading the far-right Liberal Party to become the largest bloc in the Senate and win the highest number of gubernatorial races across the country starting in January 2027. Bolsonaro himself emerged as the frontrunner in Sunday's presidential election, garnering 47.03% of the vote, outpacing incumbent President Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva, who received 45.16%.

The Liberal Party will likely control more than one-third of the Senate seats, granting them nearly 35% of the chamber, and will need to form alliances with other right-wing parties to reach an absolute majority. Former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro and Carlos Bolsonaro, another son of Jair Bolsonaro, are set to join the Liberal Party's senators.

The results signal a significant shift in the Senate's balance of power, with right-wing and conservative parties gaining greater influence compared to their current status. Meanwhile, left-wing parties will see their representation decrease from 17 to 15 seats. In the Lower House, the Liberal Party won 121 out of the 513 seats, a 24% increase from their 2022 performance, but still far from a majority.

The party will face challenges in passing bills without forming coalitions. In state elections, the Liberal Party triumphed in five states: Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, and Roraima, gaining stronger negotiating leverage in Congress.