Politics · Brazil · 11 hrs ago
Flavio Bolsonaro and Lula advance to Brazil presidential runoff
Brazil’s first-round presidential vote has left Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as the two leading candidates.
With just over 97% of ballots counted, Bolsonaro had 47.45% of valid votes and Lula had 44.66%.
Neither won enough to avoid a second round, which is scheduled for October 25.
Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and hopes to return his father’s right-wing movement to power.
Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth term.
The campaign focused on the cost of living, corruption and insecurity, while major policy debates were limited.
Some analysts said Bolsonaro may be drawing voters who mainly want to vote against Lula, and the result of the runoff will decide who becomes president.
Flavio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva advanced to Brazil’s presidential runoff, according to the country’s electoral authority.
With just over 97% of ballots counted, Bolsonaro received 47.45% of valid votes and Lula received 44.66%.
The second round is scheduled for October 25, 2026.
They advanced from a field of 12 candidates after a campaign focused on living costs, corruption and insecurity.
Bolsonaro is a 45-year-old senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, while Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth term.
- Who
- Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- What
- They advanced to the second round of Brazil’s presidential election.
- When
- The first-round result was reported on October 4, 2026; the runoff is scheduled for October 25.
- Where
- Brazil.
- Why
- Neither candidate received enough votes to avoid a runoff; the sources do not state a specific reason for their vote totals.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I hope it’s enough to secure a victory in the first round.
What is at stake is the future of Brazil.
Teams monitoring international risks have not identified any risks whatsoever.
Brazil held the first round of its presidential election.
With just over 97% of ballots counted, Bolsonaro had 47.45% of valid votes and Lula had 44.66%.
The runoff between Bolsonaro and Lula is scheduled to take place.
- Bolsonaro’s first-round share
- 47.45% of valid votes
- Lula’s first-round share
- 44.66% of valid votes
- Ballots counted when results were reported
- Just over 97%
- Runoff date
- October 25, 2026
- Candidates in first round
- 12










