Thousands of miles from Brazil, the country’s presidential election sparked debates among students at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS). Oct. 25 marked Brazil’s second round of elections. That night, the senior class group chat became a space for some students to celebrate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s (Lula’s) victory, while others voiced strong support for Flávio Bolsonaro.
Left-wing incumbent Lula’s victory over right-wing Flávio, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, secured him a fourth nonconsecutive presidential term, with 51.79 percent of votes in the second round of elections, compared with Bolsonaro’s 48.21 percent, according to BBC News. The close race reflects Brazil’s deeply divided politics, which now reach well beyond the country’s borders, all the way to MVRHS.
Despite following Brazil’s election closely, senior Duda Rodrigues didn’t expect Lula to win, after Flávio came out ahead in the first round of voting.
“I was extremely surprised by the outcome,” said Duda. “Ever since elections started, the top candidate in the first rounds would always win the runoff, and this year, that was Flávio Bolsonaro. So Lula winning the runoff was an extreme shock. History was made!”
Those who opposed Lula’s victory expressed concerns about the country’s future under his administration.
Sophomore Ana Clara Sodre said, “At first Bolsonaro was winning, and all of a sudden Lula got in the lead, so I was shocked because all the social media [posts] I had been seeing were all of people supporting Flávio.”
Some students saw the Brazilian elections as an opportunity to learn something new about their peers.
Senior Emily Dasilva, who was born on the Vineyard and carries Brazilian heritage, said she enjoys hearing her classmates’ views: “I do feel comfortable sharing my own political views in school, because it’s good to hear others’ opinions and reasons.”
Junior Nora Duncheva took the opportunity to learn more about Brazilian politics. “My initial reaction was that the system was very corrupt and that it was extremely complicated,” she said, adding that she feels like many people in America are sheltered from the reality of what’s going on in the world.
On the other hand, Duda recognizes that foreign elections can carry impacts abroad. “I think elections in other countries can affect Americans because countries are connected through trade, politics. and international relationships,” she said. “Elections can also influence how countries cooperate on global issues like climate change and peace.”
Two days after his defeat, Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil, defying a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, and flew to Miami by private jet. He’s being investigated for alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. His actions aroused many questions and concerns among the worldwide Brazilian community.
“Personally, I think [fleeing the country] is something a baby would do. The fact that Flávio went to Florida, telling everyone that he was the president of Brazil, is absurd,” Emily said, referring to an open letter Flávio Bolsonaro posted on X, where he called himself “the true president-elect of Brazil.” Less than an hour after the post, he edited the language, calling himself Brazil’s “leader.”
Ana Clara offered another perspective on the matter. “If he’s doing it to protect himself because it might be dangerous right now for him to be in Brazil, I think it’s a good thing that he came here, to be protected, because Trump is supporting him,” she said.
Both Brazil’s electoral court and Flávio Bolsonaro’s own party have recognized Lula’s win.
Duda said the Brazilian election of 2026 reflected the inner meaning of being Brazilian: “I think the results just show how committed and strong we are. Like I said, it’s [seemingly been] impossible for the candidate who didn’t win the first round of elections to win the second, but the people made it happen. This shows persistence and a love for what we believe.”
