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(The Conversation) — Since Brazil’s runoff elections, most attention has been focused on President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s surprise upset.

The first round of voting gave a narrow lead to challenger Flávio Bolsonaro – son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is now serving a 27-year sentence for efforts to overturn the 2022 election. In a Oct. 25, 2026, comeback , however, Lula won nearly 52% of votes , compared with the younger Bolsonaro’s 48%.

Yet the close results still highlight the country’s deep polarization, including religious divides , which have played an increasingly important role in its politics . According to polls before the election , Catholics were more likely to support Lula , while evangelicals staunchly backed Bolsonaro.

But Brazil’s evangelicals have diverse beliefs and identities.…