‘Taylor Swift tells us to take the lead!’ Could highly organised pop fans clinch victory for Brazil’s Lula?

More than 600 Brazilian pop music fan groups have joined an online campaign for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the 25 October runoff election. The campaign grew after right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro led the first round, and reflects efforts to reach younger voters through communities that already have large, active social media followings.

The groups formed Fandoms Pelo Brasil, sharing messages about Lula’s record and encouraging fans to discuss politics. Supporters say fandoms can bring political debate to people who may not follow it elsewhere, while their progressive causes overlap with public positions taken by some pop artists. The article describes a São Paulo rally that organisers said drew more than a million people, where fans brought artist-themed shirts and merchandise alongside familiar political symbols.