Brazil goes to the polls on October 4, 2026, in a first-round presidential vote that pits incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who is seeking an unprecedented fourth term at age 80, against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who carries the banner of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Lula has campaigned as the defender of Brazilian sovereignty against United States tariffs, while Flávio has promised closer alignment with Washington on trade and security. With runoff polling at a statistical tie, a fragmented conservative field, and US tariffs and terrorist designations of Brazilian criminal groups now a focus of the campaign, the result will set the terms of Washington’s relationship with Latin America’s largest economy.
Join Hudson Institute for a panel that will examine the dynamics shaping the race, how each leading candidate would govern, and what a Lula or Bolsonaro victory would mean for US-Brazil relations.
Join Hudson Institute for a conference with leaders from industry, government, academia, and defense to discuss the latest developments in the US-China AI competition.
Join House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) for a fireside discussion with Senior Fellow Nadia Schadlow on Congress’s role in revitalizing America’s defense industrial base.
Please join Hudson Institute for a special address on the current state-of-play by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will join remotely, followed by a question-and-answer session on the war with Hudson Institute President and CEO John Walters.
Bill Frauenhofer, executive director for semiconductor investment and innovation at the US Department of Commerce, will join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow David Feith for an invitation-only fireside chat on semiconductor onshoring and the role of government capital in strengthening America’s technological and industrial leadership.
