Voting in the 2026 Brazilian presidential election began on Sunday. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the leftist president, is seeking to secure his fourth non-consecutive term, while Senator Flávio Bolsonaro is looking to continue the populist right-wing movement initiated by his father, Jair Bolsonaro.
Close Competition Between the Two Main Candidates
Polls indicate that the competition between these two main candidates is very close, with neither likely to secure more than 50 percent of the votes to avoid a runoff scheduled for October 25.
Lula and Bolsonaro wrapped up their campaigns on Saturday in Brazil's leading economic state, São Paulo. The 80-year-old Lula concluded his campaign with a trip in the city of São Paulo, promising to "defeat the far-right" and described the election as a choice between "democracy and sovereignty" and "barbarism and corruption." Organizers reported that about 150,000 of Lula's supporters attended this rally in Brazil's largest city.
Lula and Bolsonaro's Campaign Platforms
Lula has emphasized the continuation of his Workers' Party's leftist programs, which include welfare initiatives, state development, and income redistribution. In contrast, Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, has served as a senator for the Liberal Party in Rio de Janeiro since 2019 and led a motorcycle parade in the surrounding cities of São Paulo, including Santa Bárbara d'Oeste and Americana, on Saturday.
The right-wing Bolsonaro has focused on strict security policies and tax cuts, pointing to the high cost of living during Lula's tenure and calling him "incompetent." He has expressed confidence in his speeches that "everything is ready for victory in this election in the first round."
Flávio Bolsonaro raised a portrait of his father at his rallies, and the crowd shouted "mito," a Portuguese word meaning "legend" used by supporters of Jair Bolsonaro. His father is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting to establish a coup following his loss to Lula in the 2022 presidential election. Flávio Bolsonaro has promised to pardon his father if elected.
Lula's team has described Bolsonaro's movement as a threat to Brazil's sovereignty, referencing Flávio and Jair's ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports last year due to the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro's coup attempt, which Trump referred to as a "witch hunt."
Flávio Bolsonaro has stated in interviews that he is "more moderate" than his father but has maintained that he will remain "my guide, my reference point." Both Bolsonaro's policies include looser gun control laws and skepticism about climate change caused by human activity.
A Divided Political Era in Brazil
Brazil is currently in a divided political era, and the campaigns have been highly aggressive, with online operations from both sides focusing on every mistake, accusation, and rumor, quickly showcasing AI-generated videos or images on social media.
In September, it was revealed that Bolsonaro is under investigation for corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion related to financing a biography about his father. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Recent polls for the first round of voting show Lula competing at 46 percent and Bolsonaro at 45 percent. If a second round occurs, the poll indicates Lula would have 42 percent and Bolsonaro 44 percent of the votes. In 2022, Lula defeated Jair Bolsonaro by only a 1.8 percent margin.
In addition to voting for the presidency, 160 million registered voters in Brazil are also electing other lawmakers, governors, and some senators.
