27 Oct 2026

On October 25, 2026, Lula da Silva defeated Flávio Bolsonaro—the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro—in Brazil's presidential election.  Lula's victory secured his fourth term as president of Brazil. Analysts to a WhatsApp network led by federal deputy André Janones

Analysts have pointed to a WhatsApp channel led by Congressman André Janones as one factor that helped amplify support for Lula’s campaign. Entitled "Lula's Army," the channel had an explosive growth to 10.8 million followers by the second round of voting, according to media reports.

As Brazil’s presidential race entered its final weeks, the WhatsApp group emerged as a major platform for organizing and amplifying pro-Lula's reelection. The network, known in Portuguese as "Exército do Lula" mobilized to support Lula through online campaigning.

Several polls showed a tightening race between Lula and Bolsonaro. However, in just three weeks between rounds,, "Lula's Army" managed to turn the tide of the race. In his victory speech, Lula praised Janones for "raising the morale of our troops every day," affectionately referring to him as "our General."