In a significant turn of events, incumbent Eduardo Paes secured a fourth term as the mayor of Rio de Janeiro after winning an absolute majority of votes in the first round of Brazil's local elections. Paes defeated his main rival, Alexandre Ramagem, who is currently under investigation for alleged spying on political opponents. Despite receiving support from former President Jair Bolsonaro, Ramagem's campaign fell short against Paes, who was backed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Meanwhile, in Sao Paulo, the mayoral race is still undecided with three candidates - Ricardo Nunes, Guilherme Boulos, and Pablo Marçal - running neck-and-neck. Marçal, a self-help guru turned far-right politician, has been embroiled in controversy, including violent incidents during televised debates and the dissemination of a falsified medical report targeting Boulos.
