Brazilian political campaigns intensify in Bahia and São Paulo

In the race for the Bahia governorship, the campaign for Jerônimo Rodrigues (PT) is utilizing a 2005 video of ACM Neto (União Brasil) attacking President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The strategy aims to prevent voters from supporting Neto by highlighting his past rhetoric against the president. Due to previous legal restrictions on using the footage during official broadcast time, the campaign plans to disseminate the material via WhatsApp and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

In the São Paulo gubernatorial debate, Fernando Haddad (PT) and Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) engaged in a heated exchange regarding organized crime. Tarcísio accused Haddad of having shared a stage with an individual linked to drug trafficking in 2025. Haddad denied any knowledge of the individual's criminal ties, telling the governor to ‘lower the ball’ and respect him. The debate also touched upon the economic impact of U.S. tariffs on Brazil, with Haddad criticizing Tarcísio for wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat during previous political contexts.