Flávio Bolsonaro leads Lula in Brazil first round as Datafolha projects runoff
With 90.14 per cent of voting sections counted, Flávio Bolsonaro led Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva 48.05 per cent to 43.96 per cent in Brazil's presidential first round, and Datafolha projected the race would go to a 25 October runoff.
Brazil’s presidential election is heading to a second round, with Senator Flávio Bolsonaro leading incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after Sunday’s first-round vote failed to produce an outright winner.
With 90.14 per cent of electoral sections counted, Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) held 48.05 per cent of valid votes against 43.96 per cent for Lula of the Workers’ Party (PT), according to official figures from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) reported by Reuters. A candidate needs more than 50 per cent of valid votes to win outright.
Shortly after 19:00 in Brasília, the polling firm Datafolha projected that the presidency would be decided between the two in a second round, scheduled for three weeks’ time — 25 October. The result inverts the pre-election polls, which had shown Lula narrowly ahead of the senator in the first round. More: Brazil election coverage.
Sources
- Reuters, “Com 90,14% das seções apuradas, Flávio lidera apuração com 48,05% dos votos contra 43,96% de Lula, mostra TSE”, 4 Oct 2026 — https://www.reuters.com/pt/domestico/IDUGZWXGVBMOXNPM23OG5V6NVE-2026-10-04/
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