Brazilian federal deputy and former military officer Jair Bolsonaro became the official nominee of the Social Liberal Party during their convention on 22 July 2018.

The running mate decision came later on 8 August, when General Hamilton Mourão was chosen to compose the ticket with Bolsonaro.

By choosing Mourão as running mate Bolsonaro secured a coalition with the Brazilian Labour Renewal Party.

Jair Bolsonaro was the first candidate for the presidency that was able to raise over $1 million reais in donations from the public during the 2018 campaign.

[17] His platform also promotes liberalizing gun laws and repressive tactics against urban criminality and drug trafficking, along with the advocation of rolling back affirmative action for black-Brazilians and reversing legislation which increases sentences for murdering women because of their gender (femicide).

However he told international non-profit groups such as the World Wildlife Fund, that he would not allow their agendas in Brazil, strongly protested against lands reserved for indigenous tribes, and plans to expand nuclear and hydroelectric power into the Amazon.

"[20] Steve Bannon (chief executive officer of Trump's 2016 presidential bid) has advised Bolsonaro's campaign.

[16] Bolsonaro was stabbed on 6 September 2018 while campaigning and interacting with supporters in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais.

[82][83][79] Most of the other candidates in the presidential race (from both sides of the political spectrum), and the then Brazilian president, Michel Temer, condemned the attack.

One protester told reporters "I'm part of a portion of society that is greatly affected by the types of things [Bolsonaro] says and thinks.

[87][88] The game's availability on Steam caused Brazil's Public Ministry of Federal Districts and Territories to investigate BS Studios and Valve for potentially harming the 2018 general election.