Follow-Up: Brazil Runoff Count Nears Halfway: Lula Leads Flávio Bolsonaro 50.01% in Dead Heat as Lead Swings Twice
BRASÍLIA, Brazil — Vote counting in Brazil's presidential runoff advanced on Sunday evening, October 25. With 47.62% of ballots tallied, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held 50.01% of valid votes against right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, a margin of less than one percentage point with no winner determined, according to Reuters, citing figures from Brazil's electoral court, the TSE.
The lead had already swung twice during the evening. When counting resumed and just over 5% had been reported, Lula led 51.16% to 48.84%; at 13.65% tallied, Flávio Bolsonaro moved in front with 50.01%; and by 47.62%, Lula had retaken the lead at 50.01%. Reuters noted that valid votes exclude blank and null ballots.
The count had earlier been paused for two hours after Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered voting extended in three cities in Bahia state, a ruling that could draw legal challenges after the election. Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after his 2022 defeat; Lula is seeking a fourth term as president. Counting continues, and GSM will follow up as the TSE releases fuller results.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于巴西利亚的巴西最高选举法院（TSE）总部大楼（资料照片）。Alexandresena 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons 发布。/ Headquarters of Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) in Brasília (file photo). Photo by Alexandresena, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- 2026-10-06Brazil Election Upset: Flavio Bolsonaro Wins First Round, Faces Lula in Oct. 25 Runoff
- 2026-10-13First Datafolha Runoff Poll: Bolsonaro Leads Lula 52 to 48 in Valid Votes
- 2026-10-17Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro Pledges 200 Billion-Real Fiscal Adjustment Without Touching Social Spending Ahead of Oct. 25 Runoff
- 2026-10-18Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Face Off in First Runoff Debate in Sao Paulo Tonight
- 2026-10-18Follow-Up: Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Clash Over Crime, Probes and the Economy in First Runoff TV Debate
- 2026-10-19Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro Trade Corruption Charges in First Runoff Debate Ahead of October 25 Vote
- 2026-10-21Bolsonaro's Lead over Lula Narrows Ahead of Brazil Runoff: Flavio at 45%, Lula at 44% in First Quaest Poll After TV Debate
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Brazil Votes in Tight Presidential Runoff: Lula vs. Flávio Bolsonaro in a Race That Could Reshape the Region
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Brazil Runoff Voting Extended Two Hours: Supreme Court Justice Orders Polls Open Until 7 p.m., Vote Count Paused
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Brazil Runoff Count Resumes: Lula Leads Flávio Bolsonaro 51.16% to 48.84% With Over 5% Counted
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Brazil Runoff Count Nears Halfway: Lula Leads Flávio Bolsonaro 50.01% in Dead Heat as Lead Swings TwiceThis story
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Lula Widens Brazil Runoff Lead to 51.09% Over Flávio Bolsonaro With Over 75% of Sections Counted
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Datafolha Projects Lula Victory in Brazil Runoff as Electoral Court Count Reaches 99.79%, With Lula at 51.76%
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Brazil's Electoral Court Declares Lula Winner of Presidential Runoff With 51.76% at 99.86% of Sections Counted, Leading Flavio Bolsonaro by Over 4.36 Million Votes
- 2026-10-25Lula Wins: From Shoeshine Boy to a Fourth Presidential Term — The Life and Political Career of Brazil's President
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Leaders Congratulate Lula on Brazil Runoff Win, Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum Says 'The Brazilian People Won'
- 2026-10-25Follow-Up: Flávio Bolsonaro Refuses to Concede Brazil Runoff, Says He Will Seek Annulment of the Vote
- 2026-10-26Brazil Runoff Final Result: Lula Wins Fourth Term With 51.79% as Bolsonaro's Son Rejects Outcome
- 2026-10-26Follow-up: Flavio Bolsonaro Refuses to Recognize Brazil Runoff Result, Says He Will Seek Annulment as Brazil ETF Plunges Nearly 15% in Asia Trade
- 2026-10-28Follow-Up: Trump Says He Approves of Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro Coming to the U.S.; State Department Official Says Entry Visas Will Be Granted to Him and His Family
- 2026-10-28Follow-Up: Flavio Bolsonaro Arrives in Miami, Greeted by Brother Eduardo, as His Brazilian Passports Are Cancelled
