# Flávio Bolsonaro Edges Lula in First Round

> Flávio Bolsonaro wins 47% of votes in Brazil's presidential election first round, setting October 25 runoff with Lula.
- Title: Flávio Bolsonaro Edges Lula in First Round · MercoPress
- Summary: Flávio Bolsonaro wins 47% of votes in Brazil's presidential election first round, setting October 25 runoff with Lula. Flávio Bolsonaro secured 47% of valid…
- Keywords: flavio bolsonaro, lula da silva, brazil, presidential election, runoff, october 25, news, world, politics, Flávio, Bolsonaro, Edges
- Source: MercoPress — https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/05/flavio-bolsonaro-edges-lula-in-the-first-round-both-head-to-an-october-25-runoff
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: flavio bolsonaro, lula da silva, brazil, presidential election, runoff, october 25, news, world, politics
## First Round Results
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro won 47% of valid votes in Brazil's presidential election first round, ahead of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with 45%.
## Runoff Date Set
The two candidates will face each other in a runoff election on October 25 after neither passed half of the valid votes.
## Bolsonaro's Statement
Bolsonaro said, 'Brazil wants change,' thanking 56 million voters, more than his father won in the first round in 2022.

> Brazil wants change
## Lula's Response
Lula acknowledged the unexpected result, stating, 'The result is often unexpected. I confess I was convinced I was going to win the election in the first round.'

> The result is often unexpected. I confess I was convinced I was going to win the election in the first round.
## Other Candidates
Ronaldo Caiado, Renan Santos, Augusto Cury, and Romeu Zema won around 8% of valid votes between them in the first round.
## Runoff Implications
If Bolsonaro wins on October 25, he would add Brazil to a series of right-wing victories in the region including those of José Antonio Kast in Chile, Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia, and Keiko Fujimori in Peru.
## Key takeaway

Flávio Bolsonaro secured 47% of valid votes in Brazil's presidential election first round, advancing to a runoff against Lula on October 25.