Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro kick off their campaigns in their political strongholds with a focus on security

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva officially launched his presidential campaign on Sunday in São Bernardo do Campo, a location historically significant to his political rise. The event, held nearly 50 years after his initial emergence in the region, drew over 10,000 supporters as the incumbent seeks another term in the upcoming October elections.

The campaign kickoff marks the beginning of a contest characterized by political analysts and media reports as a closely fought race. While Lula returns to his traditional stronghold to mobilize his base, other major candidates, including Flávio Bolsonaro, have simultaneously initiated their own campaigns in their respective political bastions.