Mayor candidates try to emerge from shadow of Bolsonaro and Lula

It remains too early to draw definitive conclusions from the 2020 municipal elections in Brazil. As races continue in key constituencies, the tepid electoral process disturbed by a deadly pandemic and a massive economic crisis makes it impossible to know — at this juncture — whether 2020 will go down as an outlier or an indication of trends for the presidential election in two years time. Regardless, what we can conclude is that both Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — the two biggest names in Brazilian politics today — suffered dents to their political capital.

Instead of being major kingmakers, President Bolsonaro and former head of state Lula have been used by adversaries as a way to discredit competitors in mayoral races.

In São Paulo, left-wing candidate Guilherme Boulos is mounting a comeback against incumbent Bruno Covas, who began the runoff stage polling head and shoulders in front. Despite his historical links to Lula, Mr. Boulos has veered away from endorsements by the ex-president, instead framing his candidacy as a vehicle for broad unity on the left.

In a recent campaign ad, Mr. Boulos featured the figureheads of four left and center-left parties, joining forces for the first time since Lula ran for election in 2006.

Besides the former president, the Boulos campaign ad features former presidential candidates Ciro Gomes and Marina Silva, as well as Flávio Dino — the governor of northeastern state Maranhão and leading figure of the...