First round results

With more than 99% of ballots processed, Flavio Bolsonaro received 47.2% of the vote while Lula got 45%.

Runoff scheduled

The country's electoral court announced a runoff election for October 25 after neither candidate received enough votes to win outright.

Bolsonaro's reaction

Bolsonaro said he was 'very happy with the real possibility that, three weeks from now, Brazil will give a definitive answer by choosing a modern government'.

“Bolsonaro said he was 'very happy with the real possibility that, three weeks from now, Brazil will give a definitive answer by choosing a modern government'”

Lula's reaction

Lula called the outcome 'unexpected' and said he was 'very good in the knockout stage' for his fourth term bid.

“Lula called the outcome 'unexpected' and said he was 'very good in the knockout stage'”

2022 election context

In 2022, Lula beat Jair Bolsonaro by only 1.8 percentage points.

Right-wing momentum

Professor Fabio de Sa e Silva noted the right was gaining momentum in Brazil with a takeover of Congress by the far-right.

Bolsonaro family wins

Former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro and Carlos Bolsonaro both won Senate seats, giving the Bolsonaro family more victories in the election.

Campaign strategies

Lula campaigned on continuing his left-leaning Workers' Party platform while Bolsonaro focused on hardline security policies and tax cuts.

Bolsonaro's pledge

Bolsonaro vowed to pardon his father if elected, despite Jair Bolsonaro serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup.