Brazil's ruling coalition has won nearly two-thirds of the mayoral races in this weekend's election, the Associated Press reported.
That gives President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wide-ranging coalition a powerful base to work with as the nation heads toward presidential elections in 2010.
Silva's own Workers Party took control in 566 city halls in Sunday's election, according to the Web site of Brazil's electoral authority.
The nation's biggest party - the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, aligned with Silva's party - won 1,205 mayoral races.
Overall, Silva's coalition took 63 percent of the nation's city halls.
Analysts say that gives the ruling coalition access to reach voters for the 2010 campaign.