Brazil’s presidential election is heading to a second round after neither President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva nor Senator Flávio Bolsonaro won a majority in Sunday’s vote. With 99.97% of ballots counted Flávio Bolsonaro led with 47.04% of valid votes while Lula had 45.15%.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court reported more than 56 million votes for Bolsonaro and more than 53.8 million for Lula. The runoff will be held on October 25.
The result sets up a direct contest between the incumbent left-wing president and the conservative senator who is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Writer Augusto Cury finished third with 2.89% of valid votes. Renan Santos followed with 2.25%.
Turnout reached 78.92% of registered voters. More than 158.7 million people were eligible to vote in the 2026 election.
Election officials said voting and counting proceeded without significant irregularities.
Brazilians also voted for governors and members of Congress. Voters elected 54 senators because two-thirds of the 81-seat Senate was up for election this year.
Former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro won one of the two Senate seats representing the Federal District. Bia Kicis won the other seat. Twenty governor races were decided in the first round while seven states will hold runoffs.
The presidential campaign has focused heavily on inflation and crime. Public debt and social welfare programs have also featured prominently in the race.
Lula is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term as president. Flávio Bolsonaro is making his first run for the presidency after serving in the Senate.