Candidates backed by Jair Bolsonaro are pulling ahead in municipal elections that are considered a barometer of political sentiment in Brazil, two years before a presidential vote in which Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will likely seek another term.

Centrist and center-right parties won city halls and consolidated control of town councils across Brazil in Sunday's municipal elections, underscoring a conservative shift in the country's electorate as the ruling Workers Party lost ground.

Former president Jair Bolsonaro’s rightwing party led Brazil's municipal elections, narrowly edging out leftist candidate Guilherme Boulos in Sao Paulo. Outgoing mayor Ricardo Nunes secured 29.4% of votes,