Brazil election headed to runoff, projection shows, as Bolsonaro lead narrows

With about 65% of votes reported, Mr. Flavio led Mr. Lula with 49.58% of the votes to the President’s 42.25%Senator Flavio Bolsonaro held a narrowing lead in the first round of Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday (October 4, 2026), after more than half the votes were counted, ‌with pollster Datafolha projecting that the election would proceed to a second vote.