Brazil’s lifelike dolls, once a niche mall oddity, now infiltrate state politics as 37 lawmakers flaunt eerily realistic replicas in legislative sessions. In São Paulo, politicians pose with dolls, prompting viral reactions like “Is that thing voting too?” and bewildered debate.

State politics now feature lawmakers waving dolls at debates and holding mock votes. The dolls’ hyper-realism—glass eyes, weighted limbs—makes Brazilian legislatures resemble toy stores more than chambers of power. “People wonder if the dolls have opinions,” joked one official, as selfies multiply.

In São Paulo’s assembly, one lawmaker’s doll was mistaken for a real child by security—twice in 1 week.