Brasília, Brazil — October 5, 2026: Brazil’s presidential election will go to a second round on October 25, with incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva facing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, after neither candidate secured the majority required to win outright.
With more than 97 percent of the votes counted, Flávio Bolsonaro was leading with 47.45 percent of valid votes, while Lula had 44.66 percent, according to election results cited by Al Jazeera.
The result marks a stronger-than-expected first-round performance for Bolsonaro, who had trailed Lula in several opinion polls before the election. The two candidates will now return to the campaign trail ahead of the October 25 runoff, which will determine Brazil’s next president. The new presidential term is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2027.
Around 160 million registered voters were eligible to participate in Sunday’s election, which also included races for legislators, governors and senators. Brazil’s electronic voting system allowed officials to count ballots rapidly after polling stations closed.
Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, represents the Liberal Party and has campaigned on tougher measures against crime and insecurity. He has also pledged closer cooperation with the United States under President Donald Trump.
“Brazil needs change,” Bolsonaro said after casting his ballot in Rio de Janeiro, arguing that the country could not endure high taxes and rising violence. He also expressed confidence that he could win the presidency in the first round.
Lula, 80, of the Workers’ Party, is seeking a fourth non-consecutive presidential term. He previously served as president from 2003 to 2010 and has campaigned on continuing social programmes aimed at reducing inequality.
The election has been dominated by concerns over crime, insecurity and the rising cost of living. Corruption and concerns about potential U.S. involvement in Brazil’s domestic affairs have also emerged as major campaign issues.
A recent Quaest survey cited violence as the country’s biggest concern, with 31 percent of respondents identifying it as their top issue. Corruption followed at 20 percent, the economy at 19 percent and healthcare at 12 percent.
The election has also been closely watched because of the political legacy of Jair Bolsonaro. The former president is serving a 27-year prison sentence over his role in a coup plot following his defeat by Lula in the 2022 presidential election.
The October 25 runoff will now determine whether Brazil remains under Lula’s leadership or turns to Flávio Bolsonaro, giving voters a choice between two sharply contrasting political visions for the country.
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