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Lula wins Brazil runoff as Flávio Bolsonaro plans annulment bid

Lula secured a fourth term with 51.79 percent of valid votes; Bolsonaro refused to concede after voting was extended.

Updated Oct 26, 2026 · 18:16 UTC51 reports

The short version

Key facts

  • Lula won Brazil's presidential runoff, securing a fourth non-consecutive term.[Associated Press · PBS NewsHour · Al Jazeera]
  • Lula received 51.79 percent of valid votes (64.26 million), compared with 48.21 percent (59.83 million) for Flávio Bolsonaro, according to the final tally.[Al Jazeera]
  • Flávio Bolsonaro refused to concede and said he planned to request an annulment of the election after voting was extended.[Associated Press · PBS NewsHour · Al Jazeera]
  • Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ruled to keep polls open for two additional hours following requests from both campaigns.[PBS NewsHour · Al Jazeera]
  • Lula requested the extension citing public transportation issues in Sao Paulo and Salvador, while Flávio Bolsonaro requested it citing heavy rains in the south.[Associated Press · PBS NewsHour]
  • In the first round on October 4, Flávio Bolsonaro led Lula 47.03 percent to 45.16 percent.[Al Jazeera]
  • Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence for a coup attempt.[Associated Press · The Guardian · Al Jazeera]
  • The Liberal Party, led by the Bolsonaro camp, won 121 of 513 lower house seats and 28 of 81 Senate seats in legislative elections.[France 24]

What remains uncertain

  • Bolsonaro's planned annulment request is disputed, and AP reports it is unclear what legal avenue he would use.[Associated Press]
  • Bolsonaro's challenge centers on the extended voting hours, but the reporting cited here does not establish that the extension affected the outcome.[PBS NewsHour · Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.