Brazilians formed long lines on October 4 to cast ballots in a tight first-round presidential election marked by economic anxiety, corruption scandals, and allegations of US meddling. The 13-candidate race is dominated by two frontrunners: 80-year-old leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, seeking a fourth term, and 45-year-old Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who aims to return his father’s right-wing movement to power. With polls showing both candidates neck-and-neck—and a potential runoff scheduled for October 25 if no contender crosses the 50% threshold—the high-stakes vote could deeply influence both Brazil’s economic trajectory and its diplomatic ties with the US.