How religion collided with race and politics in Brazil’s presidential election

Brazil's 2026 presidential runoff election saw President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva narrowly defeat challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a lengthy sentence. While Lula secured nearly 52% of the vote, Flávio received 48%. This close result underscores the country's deep political polarization, which extends beyond traditional racial and economic divides to include religious ones.

Historically, Catholics in Brazil have tended to support Lula, while evangelical Christians have staunchly backed Bolsonaro. However, the landscape of Brazilian evangelicals is far more complex than this binary. In recent decades, Brazil's religious landscape has shifted dramatically, with the proportion of Catholics dropping from 80% to just 57% and evangelical believers rising from 10% to 27%.

Beyond Christianity, Brazil is home to a rich tapestry of religious traditions. Approximately 1% of the population practices Candomblé or Umbanda, African-origin religions with deep cultural roots. Around 2% follow Spiritism, a movement that gained prominence in Brazil at the turn of the 20th century. Additionally, 4% belong to other religious groups, while 9% have no religious affiliation at all.

Politically, the influence of evangelicalism is significant. Nearly 20% of members of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies identify as evangelical. This demographic played a crucial role in Jair Bolsonaro's 2018 election victory, as evidenced by his slogan "God, country, family and freedom" resonating with key clergy and evangelical voters. During the 2026 campaign, Flávio Bolsonaro similarly tapped into religious themes, declaring that Brazil belongs "to the Lord Jesus Christ."

The relationship between faith and racial identity is also crucial in Brazil's political calculus. While many Brazilians identify as multiracial, with around 45% of the population identifying as Pardo (Brown), 43% as white, and 10% as Black, religious affiliation often intersects with these racial categories. Black Brazilians are more likely to support Lula's Workers' Party, while white voters tend to back Bolsonaro's Liberal Party and other right-leaning options.