NewsLa OpiniónOctober 26, 2026Los Angeles County
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wins fourth term as Brazil's president in runoff election
Photo: La Opinión
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured his fourth presidential mandate by winning 51.8% of the valid votes in a runoff election against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who received 48.2%. The outcome marks the first time in Brazil's electoral history since 1988 that a candidate leading after the first round was defeated in the runoff. Following the vote, Bolsonaro announced plans to challenge the result.
Read the full story at La OpiniónWhy It Matters
The election decides Brazil's executive leadership and policy direction amidst ongoing economic debates over public debt and social program spending.
Key Facts
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won his fourth presidential mandate with 51.8% of the valid votes in the runoff.
- Senator Flávio Bolsonaro received 48.2% of the valid votes in the runoff election.
- Flávio Bolsonaro won the first round with 47% of the votes, nearly two points ahead of Lula.
- This marks the first time since Brazil adopted its electoral system in 1988 that a candidate leading after the first round lost the runoff.
- Flávio Bolsonaro announced he will request the annulment of the election.
- About 3 million more Brazilians voted in the runoff than in the first round, and abstention dropped to 19.2%.
- Lula obtained 10.3 million more votes in the runoff than in the first round, establishing a 4.4 million vote difference over Bolsonaro.
- Lula expanded and advanced payments for the Bolsa Familia social program to reach over 19 million families.
- The Senate approved a reduction of the work week from six days to five, or from 44 hours to 40, prior to the runoff.
- Brazil's Electoral Court president Kassio Nunes confirmed Lula's victory and rejected claims that extending voting hours altered the outcome.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationTV Globo“Television network that broadcast a debate”PersonJair Bolsonaro“Former president”OrganizationUniversidad Federal de Minas Gerais“University where Magna Inácio teaches”PersonAndré Janones“Leftist deputy who coordinated digital campaign strategy”PersonAna Clara“Child referenced during a presidential debate”PersonFlávio Bolsonaro“Right-wing senator and presidential candidate”PersonKassio Nunes“President of the Superior Electoral Court”PersonAntonio Lavareda“Political scientist and electoral behavior expert”locationIrán“Country referenced in relation to oil price increases”PersonTom Jobim“Composer and bossa nova pioneer”locationSäo Paulo“City hosting a campaign demonstration”OrganizationQuaest“Polling firm”PersonMagna Inácio“Political science professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais”locationBrasil“Country holding the presidential election”PersonLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva“Winning candidate for a fourth presidential mandate”