Sergio Moro’s fall from grace softened by Senate win

In one of the most closely-watched Senate races of the year, former federal judge and Justice Minister Sergio Moro won a seat in the upper house to represent his home state of Paraná in the upper house for the next eight years. With nearly 99 percent of the ballots counted, Mr. Moro had 33.71 percent of the votes, while Paulo Martins, from Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, had 29.10 percent.

The win nevertheless has a bitter taste for a man who many (including Mr. Moro himself) thought was bound for the presidency in 2022.

Adding insult to injury, Mr. Moro has to watch Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the leftist leader Mr. Moro convicted for corruption in 2017, qualifying as the favorite to the runoff stage of the presidential race.

That Mr. Moro was forced to settle for the Senate after aiming for the presidency is the result of a mix of hubris and political ineptitude. 

Just six years ago, Mr. Moro was one of Brazil’s most popular public figures. He oversaw Operation Car Wash, a years-long anti-corruption task force that uncovered corruption schemes deeply rooted in virtually all major Brazilian parties and many of the country’s top construction conglomerates.

Mr. Moro was hailed for going after billionaires and politicians — who, for the first time in Brazilian history, were going to jail in droves or having their homes raided by federal marshals looking for evidence. For millions of Brazilians frustrated with a self-serving political class, Mr. Moro’s decisions came as a glimmer...