The Bolsonaro family political dynasty has expanded dramatically after Flávio Bolsonaro emerged as the first-round leader in Brazil’s presidential election, while his mother, siblings and uncle also secured elected positions.
Flávio, the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, won about 47% of the vote against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s 45%, sending the two candidates into a runoff scheduled for October 25.
The result was accompanied by significant gains for Bolsonaro-aligned candidates in congressional and other elections, strengthening the political network built around the former president.
Flávio Bolsonaro leads presidential race
Flávio Bolsonaro’s first-round performance exceeded expectations and placed him ahead of Lula going into the second round.
The Liberal Party, which backs Bolsonaro, also emerged as the largest force in Brazil’s next Congress. Reuters reported that the party increased its Senate representation from 15 to 28 seats and was projected to hold 121 seats in the lower house, compared with 98 previously.
The congressional result could have important implications for the next president because legislative support would influence the ability of any administration to pass major policies.
For Flávio, the result also provides a stronger political platform as he attempts to consolidate support ahead of the October 25 runoff.
Lula, meanwhile, faces the task of expanding his support beyond his traditional base after narrowly finishing behind his rival in the first round.
Four Bolsonaro family members elected
The presidential result was only one part of the Bolsonaro family’s electoral success.
Michelle Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro’s wife and Brazil’s former first lady, was elected to the Senate in her first campaign for public office.
Her victory strengthens the position of one of the family’s most popular political figures and gives her a national elected platform independent of her husband’s previous presidency.
Jair Bolsonaro’s second son, Carlos Bolsonaro, was also elected senator after spending about 25 years as a city councillor in Rio de Janeiro.
Carlos has long been closely associated with his father’s political communication strategy and was involved in managing Jair Bolsonaro’s social media presence.
Jair Renan Bolsonaro, the former president’s fourth son, also secured election to the federal Congress after previously serving as a city councillor.
The family breakthrough extended beyond Jair Bolsonaro’s children.
His younger brother, Renato Bolsonaro, was elected to Congress after previously losing seven consecutive elections for lower-level political offices.
Michelle Bolsonaro emerges as key figure
Michelle Bolsonaro’s victory may be particularly significant because she has developed a political profile of her own within the broader Bolsonaro movement.
The former first lady has strong links with evangelical voters and became known nationally during Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency.
She made history in 2019 when she delivered a speech in Brazilian Sign Language at her husband’s inauguration, reflecting her previous experience as an interpreter at evangelical church services.
A researcher quoted by the Guardian, Camila Rocha of the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning, described Michelle as highly popular among Bolsonaro supporters.
“She is a phenomenon,” Rocha said.
“Even Bolsonaro voters don’t like his sons very much, but many of them like Michelle, who is very charismatic.”
Her popularity had previously led to speculation that she could become a stronger presidential contender herself.
However, Jair Bolsonaro ultimately chose Flávio as the family’s presidential candidate while Michelle pursued a Senate seat.
Family tensions during campaign
The family’s rise has not been completely free of internal disagreements.
Michelle became involved in one of the more contentious moments of Flávio’s campaign after saying she had been “humiliated”, “disrespected” and “mistreated” by the senator.
Flávio subsequently apologised publicly, although the two did not campaign together after the dispute.
The episode highlighted the tensions that can exist within a family increasingly dependent on a shared political brand.
Another disagreement emerged when Renato Bolsonaro questioned Flávio’s ability to attract crowds, saying: “Flávio is not Jair. He doesn’t draw crowds.”
Despite such comments, Flávio ultimately performed strongly enough to lead the first round.
Bolsonaro name remains powerful in Brazil
The election results suggest that the Bolsonaro surname remains a significant political force in Brazil even after Jair Bolsonaro’s removal from electoral politics.
The former president is serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted over an attempt to overturn the result of the 2022 election.
Yet his influence remains evident through his family’s electoral performance and the continued strength of Bolsonaro-aligned candidates.
Flávio’s first-round result also demonstrated that the family’s support extends beyond simply transferring Jair Bolsonaro’s previous vote share.
According to the Guardian’s reporting, Flávio received more votes than his father secured in both the 2018 and 2022 presidential elections.
However, analysts have cautioned that some of his support may represent opposition to Lula rather than a personal attachment to Flávio.
That distinction could become important in the runoff because voters who backed other candidates in the first round will have to choose between Flávio and Lula.
Brazil heads towards decisive runoff
Brazil’s October 25 runoff will now determine whether Flávio Bolsonaro can convert his first-round lead into the presidency or whether Lula can recover and secure another term.
The first-round result has already produced a significant shift in the political landscape, with Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party gaining greater influence in Congress.
The result also means that the Bolsonaro family’s political reach is no longer centred exclusively on Jair Bolsonaro.
Michelle now has a Senate seat, Carlos has moved into the Senate, Jair Renan has entered the federal Congress and Renato Bolsonaro has also secured national office.
That combination gives the family multiple elected representatives capable of maintaining and expanding its political influence regardless of the outcome of the presidential runoff.
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The Guardian quoted Rocha as saying that many voters continue to see the Bolsonaro family as representing an anti-system alternative.
“Although the family has been in politics for a long time, many voters still see the Bolsonaros as representing ‘renewal’ and an anti-system vote,” Rocha said.
“So, to change everything, these voters want to throw a ‘bomb’ that blows up congress and Lula. And that bomb is the Bolsonaro family.”
The Bolsonaro family political dynasty has therefore entered a new phase, with Flávio fighting for the presidency while several members of the family establish themselves in Brazil’s legislature.
The October 25 runoff will determine whether Flávio adds the presidency to that expanding family political network, while the congressional results have already ensured that Bolsonaro-aligned politicians will have a substantial presence in Brazil’s next political landscape.
