Brazil Election Upset: Flavio Bolsonaro Wins First Round, Faces Lula in Oct. 25 Runoff

Brazil's Oct. 4 presidential first round delivered a shock: Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of jailed ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, upset incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and enters the Oct. 25 runoff as the favorite.
The 71-year-old elder Bolsonaro, barred from office and under house arrest serving a 27-year sentence over a 2022 coup plot, watched as four more family members also won office. Analysts credit a regional right-wing wave and Lula's campaign missteps. Brazilian stocks surged 8% on Monday, the biggest non-crisis gain this century.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图:巴西选民在投票站内投票(资料图)
Story Timeline
- 2026-10-06Brazil Election Upset: Flavio Bolsonaro Wins First Round, Faces Lula in Oct. 25 RunoffThis story
- 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 Twice
- 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

