Shortly after 9:00pm Brasilia time on Sunday (00:00 GMT), Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court called the race for Lula, who had earned more than 51 percent of the vote. More than 64 million ballots were cast for the incumbent.
Bolsonaro, meanwhile, netted 48 percent, or north of 59 million ballots. More than 4 million votes separated the two candidates, with the final votes still being counted.
With his victory, Lula has made history. No other politician in modern Brazilian history has lost the first round of a presidential election only to win the second round.
“A historic turning point for democracy,” Edinho Silva, the head of Lula’s Workers’ Party, posted on social media, along with a video of supporters chanting, “Ole, ole, ole, ole, ola! Lula, Lula!”
Left-wing leaders across the hemisphere also applauded the result. “Long live democracy, the people of Brazil have won,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote in the wake of the results. “Congratulations, President Lula!”
United States Senator Bernie Sanders likewise offered his felicitations, calling Lula’s re-election “extraordinary”.
Trump appears to have favored the Bolsonaro family, so call it a victory for the people, a loss for Trump.