Brazil Election: How ‘Lula’s Army’ WhatsApp Channel Helped Turn Race Around

A WhatsApp channel called “Lula’s Army” grew to 10.8 million followers as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign sought to reverse a polling deficit against Flávio Bolsonaro. Led by Congressman André Janones, the channel urged supporters to share campaign videos, promote hashtags and recruit voters. Lula’s allies credited the effort with energizing the campaign, while political scientists cautioned that its direct effect on votes is impossible to measure. Analysts also pointed to stronger grassroots organizing and shifts in campaign messaging as important factors in Lula’s comeback