The Republicanos party declared its support for Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) in the second round of Brazil's presidential election, according to CNN Brasil. Party president Marcos Pereira announced the decision on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
The endorsement marks a shift for the party, which stayed neutral during the first round of the race.
The announcement came on the same day Flávio Bolsonaro also picked up backing from Novo and the União Progressista federation, CNN Brasil reports.
Why it matters
The Republicanos decision moves a significant party behind Flávio Bolsonaro as the runoff campaign gets underway. During the first round, the party had chosen not to take sides, so Wednesday's announcement ends that neutral stance and places the party's structure behind the senator from Rio de Janeiro.
The endorsement also reflects a broader effort to bring center-leaning parties closer to Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign, a movement aimed at strengthening his position in the second round, according to CNN Brasil.
With all ballots counted, Flávio Bolsonaro finished the first round with 47.03% of the vote, or 56.1 million votes. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), who is seeking reelection, took 45.16%, or 53.8 million votes, CNN Brasil reports.
Support builds on the same day
The Republicanos announcement was not the only endorsement Flávio Bolsonaro received on Wednesday. Novo and the União Progressista federation also declared their support for him that day, per CNN Brasil.
Taken together, the three endorsements point to a coordinated push to consolidate support behind the senator ahead of the runoff. The Republicanos decision, delivered by Pereira, gives the campaign the backing of a party that had previously held back.
The first-round results left the two candidates separated by less than two percentage points, with Flávio Bolsonaro holding a lead of roughly 2.3 million votes over Lula. The endorsements announced Wednesday are part of the effort to build on that advantage in the head-to-head contest.
What to watch
The runoff campaign now moves forward with Flávio Bolsonaro carrying the support of Republicanos, Novo, and the União Progressista federation, while the parties that remained neutral in the first round face pressure to pick a side.
