Brazil’s presidential race: Three key takeaways from the first round

What the report says

Brazil’s presidential election is heading to a runoff on October 25 after no candidate secured an outright majority in the first round, Al Jazeera reported, citing official results confirmed by Brazil’s electoral court. The contest will again pit President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva against right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a rematch of the country’s deeply polarized political rivalry. Lula, who is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term, and Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, finished close enough in the first round to keep the race competitive.

According to the report, Bolsonaro outperformed pre-election polling, finishing ahead of Lula in the first round and helping the right gain momentum more broadly. Analysts cited by Reuters suggested some voters may have treated the first round as a chance to register protest support against Lula, which could affect how much additional ground Bolsonaro can still make before the runoff. Lula, for his part, said he had expected to win outright but signaled confidence that he could recover in the second round.

The article also said the right did well in congressional races, with Bolsonaro-aligned candidates and parties gaining strength in both chambers. That includes wins by members of the Bolsonaro family, reinforcing the influence of the “bolsonarista” movement even though former President Jair Bolsonaro is barred from running. The results matter because a stronger right in Congress could complicate Lula’s agenda if he wins, while a Bolsonaro victory would likely strengthen the family’s political return.