Voting in Brazil's 2026 presidential election has begun, with polls showing Lula and Bolsonaro nearly tied
Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former far-right populist President Jair Bolsonaro, is taking on incumbent left-wing President Lula da Silva. Polls show the first round of voting will likely lead to a runoff.
Voting commenced in Brazil's presidential election on Sunday, with incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva aiming for a fourth term and his rival, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, continuing the populist legacy of his father, Jair Bolsonaro. Both candidates are in a tight race, with neither projected to secure more than half the votes needed to avoid a runoff scheduled for October 25.
The two leaders concluded their campaigns on Saturday in Brazil's commercial hub, São Paulo. Lula, aged 80, dedicated his final campaign stop to denouncing the far-right and emphasizing a choice between democracy and corruption. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro, 45, focused on security and tax cuts while emphasizing his father's influence. A recent Quaest poll indicated Lula leading with 46% and Bolsonaro trailing at 45%.
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