Politics · Brazil · 2 hrs ago
Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro face off in Brazil's presidential runoff
Brazil holds its presidential runoff on Oct.
25, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva facing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, finished first in the Oct.
4 opening round, with 47.03% of valid votes to Lula's 45.16%.
The winner must receive more than half of valid votes, which exclude blank and invalid ballots.
Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth, nonconsecutive term and says this will be his last election.
Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, has pledged to pardon his father, who is under house arrest while serving a sentence for plotting to overturn the 2022 election result.
The candidates offer different priorities, including Bolsonaro's plans to reduce the state and crack down on organized crime, while Lula has challenged his economic proposals.
The result could shape Brazil's political direction and extend the Bolsonaro family's influence on the right.
Voters in six states and the Federal District will also choose governors, and people who missed the first round may vote in the runoff.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro face each other in the presidential runoff on October 25.
Flávio Bolsonaro finished ahead in the October 4 first round, but polls ahead of the runoff show a close race, often within the margin of error.
Lula is seeking a fourth, nonconsecutive term, while Bolsonaro’s victory would extend his family’s influence over Brazil’s political right.
The candidates have offered contrasting priorities, including Bolsonaro’s proposals to reduce the state and crack down on organized crime.
The contest is also seen as part of a broader rightward shift in Latin America.
- Who
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
- What
- They are competing in Brazil’s presidential runoff.
- When
- October 25, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- They are seeking the presidency with contrasting political priorities. The sources describe a close contest, but do not give a single specific cause for the runoff.
Lula's campaign
Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign
Economic policy
Lula's campaign
Lula challenged Bolsonaro over whether Argentina’s austerity policies should serve as a model.
Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign
Bolsonaro has proposed reducing the size of the Brazilian state to boost economic growth.
Public safety
Lula's campaign
Lula’s specific public-safety proposals are not stated in the sources.
Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign
Bolsonaro has promised an aggressive crackdown on organized crime and said he would make streets safer.
Flávio Bolsonaro finished ahead of Lula in the first round of voting.
Flávio Bolsonaro held a rally on São Paulo’s Avenida Paulista.
Lula and Bolsonaro took part in the final televised debate, according to the Buenos Aires Times.
Brazil is scheduled to hold the presidential runoff.
- Runoff date
- October 25, 2026
- Candidates
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro
- First-round date
- October 4, 2026
- First-round result
- Flávio Bolsonaro received 47.03% of valid votes; Lula received 45.15%, according to the Buenos Aires Times.
- PoderData poll
- Flávio Bolsonaro 49%; Lula 48%; margin of error 1.6 percentage points.
4 sources
What people are saying
I will give you back the streets so that you can walk in safety.
I'm really worried about the future for women, the fight against racism and social inequality, and the protection of vulnerable people.
Have you seen how things are going in Argentina, and are you going to keep saying that Milei is your model?