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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won a fourth non-consecutive term on October 25, 2026, defeating far-right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a historic runoff election that reversed an earlier first-round defeat.

With all votes counted, Lula secured 51.79% of the valid vote, 64.26 million ballots, compared with 48.21% for Bolsonaro, who received 59.83 million votes. Lula’s margin exceeded 4.4 million votes, giving the 81-year-old president an unprecedented comeback in Brazil’s modern democratic era.

Brazilian national electoral authority confirmed the result, which made Lula the first presidential candidate since the restoration of direct elections to finish second in the first round and win the presidency in the runoff.

The result marked a sharp reversal from the first round on October 4, when Bolsonaro, 45, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, led with 47.03% of the vote against Lula’s 45.16%. The initial gap of approximately 2.2 million votes left Lula facing a difficult campaign to regain the advantage in just three weeks.

However, the runoff brought a stronger turnout, with approximately 80.8% of registered voters participating, compared with about 78.9% in the first round. Abstention fell to roughly 19.2%, down from 21.08%, according to electoral authorities.

Lula’s campaign focused on the cost of living, the protection of social programs, the public health system and the defense of democratic institutions. Mobilization efforts included student-led protests and digital campaigns intended to bring supporters back to the polls. WhatsApp groups associated with Congressman Andre Janones, organized under the banner of “Lula’s Army,” reportedly attracted more than 10 million participants.

"O que o povo brasileiro fez nesse segundo turno não estava escrito em nenhuma página da nossa sociologia. O povo assumiu para si a responsabilidade de fazer a campanha". Muito obrigado, Rio de Janeiro! 📸 @ricardostuckert https://t.co/waEKIsfLlE

— Lula (@LulaOficial) October 24, 2026

The campaign also appealed to younger voters and older Brazilians who had not voted in the first round, while seeking to strengthen support in the Northeast, a traditional base for Lula and his Workers’ Party.

The final days of campaigning were marked by disputes over voting access and the role of digital platforms. A last-minute decision by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin extended voting hours by two hours following requests from both campaigns over transportation difficulties.

The ruling became a central point of contention after polling stations in some areas faced delays and long lines. Although Bolsonaro later cited the extension as grounds for challenging the result, Lula’s margin of more than four million votes was substantially larger than the number of ballots cast during the additional period.

Lula Promises to Govern for All Brazilians

Lula addressed supporters and journalists at a hotel in Sao Paulo late Sunday after Vice President Geraldo Alckmin spoke first. Alckmin thanked voters, particularly young people, women and older citizens who had made an effort to cast their ballots. He described the result as a victory for democracy and pledged to work alongside the president with humility and a sense of responsibility.

In his own victory speech, Lula thanked voters and campaign organizers, highlighting the efforts of young people who had taken to the streets to defend democracy. He also praised older voters who had overcome illness or mobility difficulties to participate in the election. Lula said the outcome reflected the public’s determination to protect the country’s democratic system and pointed to the lower abstention rate as evidence of increased participation.

Lula sharply criticized misinformation and the influence of digital platforms on elections. He argued that crimes committed online should be treated as seriously as crimes in the physical world, adding that large technology companies should not be able to earn substantial profits in Brazil while avoiding taxes and attempting to influence electoral outcomes.

He described the result as a defeat for denialism and lies, making digital regulation and the role of technology companies prominent themes in his post-election remarks.

The president also pledged to change the way his government operates, promising greater public participation in decision-making and a larger role for digital communication. He said the election was over and that he would have to govern for all 215 million Brazilians, regardless of how they had voted. Lula acknowledged that he would need to work with Congress, which voters had elected independently of the presidency, to advance his agenda.

Lula, a former metalworker and labor union leader who never completed a university degree, emphasized the significance of winning a fourth democratic presidential term. With his 81st birthday on October 27, he promised to devote himself fully to the job and deliver what he described as the best presidential term in Brazil’s history.

Addressing crowds on Sao Paulo’s Avenida Paulista in the early hours of Monday, he declared: “Democracy always, dictatorship never again. Democracy always, fascism never again.”

Bolsonaro Challenges the Result as His Party Recognizes Lula’s Victory

Flavio Bolsonaro initially refused to accept defeat, saying he would use his legal team to seek the annulment of the election. Speaking in Brasília on Sunday, he argued that the circumstances surrounding the vote made it impossible for him to recognize the result and accused the authorities of changing the rules during the election.

However, on Monday, Brazil’s Liberal Party, which backed his candidacy, recognized the election result in a statement signed by party president Valdemar Costa Neto, while maintaining that the concerns raised during the campaign needed further clarification. Flávio’s personal position remained distinct from the party’s acknowledgment of the result.

JUST IN: 🇧🇷 Flávio Bolsonaro officially rejects results of presidential election against Lula da Silva. "It is impossible to recognize the election results… we will use our legal team, we will request the annulment of these elections." https://t.co/auRRgmI2ul

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) October 26, 2026

Bolsonaro shifted his position, announcing that he would seek the annulment of the Lula-Alckmin ticket over alleged abuses of political and economic power during the campaign, rather than pursuing his earlier demand to annul the entire election. He continued to dispute the circumstances surrounding the result.

Bolsonaro focused on Zanin’s decision to extend voting hours, describing it as unprecedented and unacceptable. He also highlighted the justice’s previous legal work for Lula as part of his criticism. The extension followed reports of voter-transport difficulties, particularly in Bahia and São Paulo, while Bolsonaro’s campaign separately cited heavy rain in southern Brazil. Although the ruling initially extended voting hours nationwide, the electoral court clarified that only polling stations that had not yet closed could remain open until 7 p.m.

His refusal to accept the result echoed the response of his father, Jair Bolsonaro, after losing the 2022 presidential election. The former president was subsequently sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup to remain in power.

The latest dispute has renewed concerns about public confidence in Brazil’s electoral institutions, although the scale of Lula’s victory makes overturning the result a significant legal challenge.

Celebrations broke out across São Paulo and other Brazilian cities after the results were announced, with supporters waving red flags and national banners.

Lula’s victory also drew congratulations from international leaders, including representatives of Mexico, France, Spain, the European Union, China, India, Russia and Chile. U.S. President Donald Trump also questioned the legitimacy of Lula’s victory, describing the election as potentially rigged without presenting evidence to support the allegation. Billionaire Elon Musk also questioned the mathematics of Lula’s turnaround on social media.

Divided Country and a Difficult Fourth Term

Despite his victory, Lula will face a challenging political environment when he begins his new term. Right-wing gains in legislative elections have left Congress more conservative, requiring the president to negotiate with political opponents to pass legislation. His ability to build working majorities will be important to advancing policies on social welfare, public health, education, climate protection and public security.

The election exposed persistent divisions over economic policy, social programs, public safety, democratic institutions and the influence of digital platforms. Lula’s campaign sought to protect existing welfare measures and strengthen public services, while Bolsonaro mobilized voters attracted to the political movement built by his father. The narrow difference in vote share, despite Lula’s substantial numerical lead, reflects the strength of both camps and the difficulty of overcoming Brazil’s political polarization.

Lula’s fourth term will also test his ability to turn campaign promises into policy while maintaining public support and working with a legislature that includes many of his political opponents. His commitment to governing for all Brazilians will be measured against the practical demands of coalition-building, economic management, and restoring confidence across a divided electorate.

Lula is scheduled to be sworn in on January 5, 2027. His victory represents a remarkable personal and political comeback, but the next phase of his presidency will depend on whether he can translate the renewed mandate into effective government while preserving the democratic institutions that were central to his campaign.