With nearly all first-round ballots counted, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro led President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva but fell short of the majority needed to win outright, setting a runoff for October 25.
Brazilians voted on Sunday, October 4, in the first round of the 2026 general election, and the presidential contest is going to a runoff. BBC News reported that right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro finished ahead of incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva but did not reach the more than 50 percent required to win outright.
With 98.81 percent of votes counted, BBC reported Bolsonaro on 47.24 percent and Lula on 44.91 percent. Al Jazeera, citing AFP, Reuters and AP, reported Bolsonaro leading with about 55.8 million votes to Lula's almost 53.2 million, and said Brazil's electoral court confirmed the two would meet again on October 25.
Flavio Bolsonaro is the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who BBC reported is serving a 27-year prison sentence over a failed coup attempt after the previous election. The Washington Post noted that Lula narrowly defeated Jair Bolsonaro four years ago and that the father's supporters later stormed government buildings in Brasilia.
BBC reported that Bolsonaro's Liberal Party also led in governors, senators and federal deputies elected so far, pointing to a strong congressional position for the right. The paper trail from polling, which had shown Lula slightly ahead during the campaign, did not match the first-round outcome.
The runoff on October 25 will decide whether Lula remains in office or whether Brazil elects Flavio Bolsonaro. Neither BBC nor the Washington Post reported a concession that ends the race; both framed the next vote as the decisive round.