Should Flávio Bolsonaro prevail in Brazil’s October 25 presidential runoff, Mexico will be the only large country in Latin America still governed by the left. This will leave the country highly vulnerable to bullying and coercion by Donald Trump, but Claudia Sheinbaum can take steps to mitigate the risks.
MEXICO CITY—Latin America’s political map has been redrawn with remarkable speed. Since April 2025, center- or far-right forces have won power in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, and Peru. In Argentina, President Javier Milei’s populist party secured a decisive victory in midterm elections last October. And in Brazil, the right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro finished ahead of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the first round of the recent presidential election 47% to 45%.
