Monday, October 26th

What happened

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won reelection, defeating Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro to secure a fourth term. Lula finished with about 52% of the vote, to Bolsonaro’s 48%. Bolsonaro had led the first round, but neither candidate won a majority. The runoff paired Lula against the right-wing son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence. Flávio Bolsonaro had pledged to pardon his father if elected. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin extended voting nationwide by two hours after both campaigns sought more time. Lula cited reduced bus service, while Bolsonaro cited heavy rain. Abstention fell from about 21% to about 19%. Lula begins in 2027 with a hostile Congress and heavy debt.

What happened

Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s lawsuit over Alaska’s Senate election. On CNN, Blanche angrily rejected Dana Bash’s suggestion that the case laid groundwork for President Trump to challenge election results. The Justice Department sued Alaska to prevent certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and the result could have changed had votes for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. gone to him. The race pits Sullivan against Democrat Mary Peltola and Daniel Sullivan, and it could affect Senate control. Daniel Sullivan denies trying to confuse voters, and Alaska courts kept him on the ballot. Trump said he directed the suit. The lawsuit and election remained unresolved before the Nov. 3, 2026, vote.

What happened

A shooting near Florida A&M University’s stadium injured 12 people, including six children. Five victims were released from the hospital by Sunday morning, while one remained in critical condition. The shooting happened just before 8 p.m. near Perry and Manatee streets in Tallahassee, after the homecoming football game. The area was crowded with people during Florida A&M’s homecoming weekend. Police said early findings showed an altercation between two or three people came before the gunfire. They described the shooting as isolated. Florida A&M said the campus remained safe and urged people to avoid the area. No arrests had been made, and police were seeking witnesses.