2026 Brazil General Elections

2026 Brazilian General Elections are elections held on 4 October 2026 to determine the President and Vice President of Brazil, governors and deputy governors of the 26 states and the Federal District, all 513 members of the Chamber of Deputies, 54 of the 81 seats in the Federal Senate, and members of state legislatures.

The elections, registered by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (Tribunal Superior Eleitoral, TSE) under the name “Eleição Geral Ordinária 2026”, saw Senator Flávio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL) receive 56.1 million votes, or 47.03% of the vote, while the incumbent President and candidate of the Workers’ Party (PT), Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, received 53.8 million votes, or 45.1%. ^【1】

As no candidate received more than 50% of the valid votes, the presidential election has been decided by a second round between Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva to be held on 25 October 2026. ^【2】

^{Brazilian President Lula da Silva is conducting his election campaign in Rio de Janeiro, 2 October 2026 - (Anadolu Ajansı)}

The 2026 elections marked the second consecutive time Brazilian voters chose between a left-wing candidate, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and a right-wing candidate from the Bolsonaro family.^【3】 In the 2022 elections, Lula defeated former President Jair Bolsonaro by less than a 2% margin, a result that became the closest presidential election in Brazilian history. Following this election, supporters of Jair Bolsonaro damaged government buildings on 8 January 2023. ^【4】

Jair Bolsonaro won the Brazilian presidency in 2018. In 2023, a court ruled he had abused his public office and banned him from holding public office for eight years. Last year, Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to overturn the 2022 election results. Bolsonaro, currently serving his sentence under house arrest, is prohibited from using social media; his last post was published in July 2025. ^【5】 Jair Bolsonaro has endorsed his eldest son, Flávio Bolsonaro, as his political successor.

The elections took place amid a period in Latin America where right-wing candidates have won consecutive elections. In 2023, Javier Milei won the presidency in Argentina; over the past year, right-wing leaders have replaced left-wing governments in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Honduras, and Chile. ^【7】 Since Donald Trump’s re-election, no left-wing candidate has won a presidential election in Latin America. ^【8】

Voters elected the President, their state’s Governor, two Senators, a Federal Deputy, and a State or Federal District Deputy. In this election, 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, 54 seats in the Senate, 27 state governorships, and the presidency were contested. ^【9】 Governor elections were held in all 26 states and the Federal District. ^【10】

According to Brazilian law, a presidential candidate must receive more than 50% of valid votes to win in the first round. If no candidate achieves this threshold, the two candidates with the most votes proceed to a second round. Brazilian presidents serve four-year terms and may be re-elected for a second consecutive term or for non-consecutive terms.

^{Brazilian President Lula da Silva is conducting his election campaign in Rio de Janeiro, 2 October 2026 - (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Voting is mandatory for literate citizens aged 18 to 70. Voting is optional for illiterate citizens, those over 70, and those aged 16 to 18. Citizens who do not vote must provide an official excuse; otherwise, they face a small fine. Brazilian citizens abroad may vote only for President and Vice President.

Brazil uses fully computerized electronic voting machines, with votes processed and cataloged by the Superior Electoral Court. Initial national trends and final results for the presidential race and legislative seats typically emerge two to three hours after polling stations close, between 8:00–9:00 PM local time (23:00–00:00 GMT).

Approximately 159 million registered voters participated in the elections on 4 October. According to official data, women constitute slightly more than half of the 158 million voter population. Elderly voters make up slightly less than one-quarter of registered voters. ^【11】

The number of registered Brazilian voters living abroad is slightly under one million. These voters reside in 134 countries worldwide. The United States leads with over 265,000 voters, followed by Portugal with approximately 135,000, Japan with 88,000, and Canada and Germany each with around 40,000. Women constitute 57% of overseas registered voters. Approximately 79,000 overseas voters cast their ballots from Lisbon, Portugal’s capital. The number of overseas registered voters increased by 32% compared to the 2022 presidential election. ^【12】

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the candidate of the Workers’ Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT). His campaign slogan was “Brazil will be no one’s colony.” His running mate is the incumbent Vice President and former political rival, Geraldo Alckmin of the Brazilian Socialist Party.^【13】

^{Brazilian President Lula da Silva is continuing his election campaign in Rio de Janeiro, 2 October 2026 - (Anadolu Ajansı)}

At age 80, Lula is running for the seventh time and seeks his fourth term. A former union leader from Brazil’s impoverished northeast, Lula began his political career as head of a metalworkers’ union and was one of the founding members of the Workers’ Party in 1980. A speech he delivered in 1979 to 60,000 striking metalworkers near São Paulo became a symbol of the democratic awakening against Brazil’s military dictatorship.^【14】

Lula lost the São Paulo gubernatorial election in 1982 and first ran for president in 1989, following Brazil’s return to democracy. He won the presidency on his fourth attempt in 2002, was re-elected in 2006, was barred from running in 2018, and was re-elected in 2022. Lula served two four-year terms from 2003 to 2011 and, with his current term beginning in 2023, has now held the presidency for three terms. He spent time in prison due to corruption charges he rejected, and his return in 2022 followed two years of incarceration. If elected, Lula would become the country’s oldest elected president, surpassing his own record. ^【17】

Lula’s key campaign pledges include:

• Social assistance: Increasing the monthly Bolsa Família benefit from 600 to 691 reais (approximately $116–134) as outlined in the government’s September plan, and reviewing debt restructuring for indebted families.
• Economic support: Expanding credit access, extending income tax exemptions, maintaining fuel subsidies, and implementing debt relief measures to sustain public investment.
• Rare earth elements: Developing Brazil’s rare earth resources for the benefit of the national economy and its citizens, rather than allowing foreign control.
• National sovereignty: Defending Brazil’s sovereignty and resisting pressure from the United States.

Lula has pledged to sustain broad social spending and oppose Trump’s policies toward Latin America. As the race narrowed, he expanded social assistance, proposed new debt restructuring for families, and moved to ban online gambling. Throughout the campaign, Lula referred to Flávio Bolsonaro as “nobody”, described him as a pawn of a global right-wing movement, and shared images linking Bolsonaro to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Argentine President Javier Milei, and Trump.

Flávio Bolsonaro is the candidate of the Liberal Party (Partido Liberal, PL). His campaign slogan is “We will not abandon Brazil.” His running mate is Liberal Party federal deputy Alfredo Gaspar from Alagoas state. Gaspar’s nomination as vice-presidential candidate was announced at an event in Brasília on 5 August 2026.^【19】

^{Brezilya devlet başkanı adayı Bolsonaro, Rio de Janeiro’da seçimler için oy kullanıyor, 4 Ekim 2026 - (Anadolu Ajansı)}

At age 45, Flávio Bolsonaro is a lawyer and senator from Rio de Janeiro. He is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who designated him as his political successor in December 2025. He began his political career in 2002 and served four terms as a state deputy in Rio de Janeiro. He ran for mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 2016 but was not elected.^【20】

Flávio Bolsonaro enjoys stronger support in Brazil’s southern regions among affluent voters and evangelical Christians. If elected, he has pledged to grant amnesty to supporters of his father and those responsible for the 8 January events.

Flávio Bolsonaro has positioned himself with a hardline public security program called “Brazil without Fear”. In June, he pledged strong measures against rapists and child abusers and proposed chemical castration for convicted offenders.^【21】

His program includes building five maximum-security “mega-prisons” and supporting U.S. efforts to designate Brazilian criminal gangs as terrorist organizations. Bolsonaro has pledged to build maximum-security prisons similar to those in El Salvador.^【22】

Bolsonaro’s main economic and foreign policy pledges include:

• Public finance: Imposing a cap on public debt, reducing public spending, and reviewing social assistance programs.
• Economy and energy: Reducing bureaucracy, controlling inflation, strengthening the energy sector, and developing the critical minerals sector.
• Rare earth elements: Positioning Brazil as one of Washington’s key suppliers of rare earth elements.
• Foreign policy and trade: Establishing close cooperation with the Trump administration and negotiating improved trade agreements with the United States, China, Israel, India, and Argentina.
• Foreign policy orientation: Reducing the budget deficit and aligning Brazil’s foreign policy more closely with Washington.
• Debt cap: One of Bolsonaro’s advisors stated that a cap on public debt would be implemented if he is elected.

Flávio Bolsonaro faces allegations of corruption, including accusations that he led a bribery scheme benefiting close associates of Adriano da Nóbrega, a former police officer accused of leading a hired-killing gang.^【23】 In late May, Bolsonaro met with Trump, who described him as a “smart young man who loves his country, Brazil”. Trump hosted Bolsonaro at the White House and praised him publicly but did not officially endorse him. Argentine President Javier Milei has endorsed Bolsonaro and attended his campaign launch.^【24】

^{Brezilya devlet başkanı adayı Bolsonaro, Rio de Janeiro’da seçimler için oy kullanıyor, 4 Ekim 2026 - (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Cury, aged 67, is a physician, psychiatrist, and psychotherapist who has sold over 42 million books on mental health. He identifies as an outsider candidate and is running for the first time under the small Avante party. He proposes adding a prime ministerial position to Brazil’s governance structure, creating a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, and pursuing a humanitarian foreign policy. His proposal, “Make Humanity Great Again”, calls for an international fund financed by global trade and arms industries to eliminate world hunger.^【25】

Santos, aged 42, is a businessman and political activist running for the first time. According to AtlasIntel data, 25% of voters aged 16–24 intend to vote for him. Santos pledges to shape Brazil’s economy along the lines of Javier Milei’s policies and its security policy along those of Nayib Bukele. His government program includes establishing a Bitcoin reserve.

Caiado, aged 76, is a doctor and landowner who resigned as governor of Goiás to run. His running mate is Gilberto Kassab. His conservative platform focuses on national security, tax reform, and anti-corruption measures. He proposes creating a continental police force modeled on Interpol to combat drug trafficking.

Zema, aged 61, is a businessman who has served two terms as governor of Minas Gerais since 2019. He is known for socially conservative and economically liberal views, including privatizing state-owned companies and adopting the Bukele security model. He supported Jair Bolsonaro in the 2018 and 2022 elections.

Other candidates listed in the TSE’s results system include Samara (UP – 80), Hertz Dias (PSTU – 16), Clariana Barão (DC – 27), and Edmilson Costa (PCB – 21).^【26】

In Brazil’s elections, crime, insecurity, and the cost of living have taken center stage. Concerns over corruption and U.S. interference in domestic affairs have also featured prominently in the campaign.

At least 53 major criminal organizations operate across two national networks in Brazil. Brazil ranks among the top 20 countries in homicide rates. In a police raid in Rio de Janeiro a year ago, over 120 people were killed; in another operation in March, eight died.^【27】 The “Operação Contenção” on 29 October 2025, targeting the Comando Vermelho gang in Rio’s Complexo da Penha and Alemão favelas, was considered the largest of its kind in the city; over 120 people, including four police officers, were reported killed.

Homicide rates in Brazil have declined, but street crimes such as phone theft have increased; violence and drug trafficking remain major problems. Bahia is the state with the highest incidence of violent incidents.^【28】

In March this year, Lula launched a $2 billion initiative targeting the financial infrastructure of criminal organizations. Lula criticized the U.S. for designating Brazilian gangs as terrorist organizations and initiated reforms to combat organized crime networks, improve homicide investigations, and invest in prisons. During his presidency, Jair Bolsonaro relaxed restrictions on gun ownership.

According to Brazil’s Justice and Public Security Ministry database, approximately 400 femicides were recorded in the first quarter of 2026. This is the highest number for any first quarter since the crime was officially recorded 11 years ago.^【29】 Lula has defined gender-based violence not as a women’s issue but as a systemic problem, launched national educational initiatives targeting young men during his third term, and stated in his campaign that anyone who attacks his wife or other women should “have their hand taken and be told to vote for someone else.”

Gross domestic product growth is expected to reach approximately 2% this year. The government has highlighted falling unemployment and progress in poverty reduction as key campaign achievements. The government has revised its economic growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 downward to 2.0% and 2.3% respectively. Rising expenditures and a public debt exceeding 82% of GDP have heightened fiscal concerns.^【30】

During Lula’s tenure, average wages in Brazil have risen slightly above inflation, but household debt has reached record levels as economic momentum slows.^【31】

The Banco Master scandal has been one of the most prominent issues in Brazil’s political campaign. The bank’s manager, Daniel Vorcaro, has been arrested over allegations of billions of dollars in fraud. The investigation has also examined links to Flávio Bolsonaro’s alleged money laundering. Bolsonaro denied the allegations but admitted Vorcaro requested funding for a film about his father, Jair Bolsonaro.

The investigation has also scrutinized relationships between the Lula government, the Supreme Court, and figures linked to the Bolsonaro family. These developments have triggered political tensions between the Supreme Court and the Senate before the election.

• July 2025: Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 40% tariff on Brazilian goods, citing Jair Bolsonaro’s trial. Trump labeled the case a “witch hunt.”
• 2025–2026: The Trump administration revoked visas for some Brazilian judges involved in Bolsonaro’s case, prompting Brazilian officials to raise allegations of U.S. interference in the elections. The U.S. has denied these allegations.
• 2026: Lula declined to join Trump’s “American Shield” initiative, and tensions with the U.S. strengthened the campaign’s emphasis on Brazilian sovereignty.
• Before the election: Trump stated he was following the Brazilian elections “very closely.” Around the same time, the U.S. suspended consular services for security reasons, and Brazil’s Federal Police launched an investigation into possible threats against U.S. diplomatic facilities.

Lula spent his final campaign day in São Paulo, emphasizing democracy and sovereignty. Flávio Bolsonaro held rallies around São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, calling for support for Bolsonaro.

Polling stations opened at 8:00 AM local time (11:00 GMT) on Sunday, 4 October 2026. Bolsonaro supporters wore yellow and green shirts representing the Brazilian flag, while Lula supporters wore red shirts featuring imagery from Lula’s union leadership days and anti-imperialist messages.

TSE President Kassio Nunes Marques noted at a press conference that disruptions occurred in the southern state of Paraná due to heavy rainfall and power outages. Nunes Marques stated: “With nearly three hours left until voting ends, everything is proceeding normally and with the highest possible transparency.” In an afternoon statement, he added: “Teams monitoring international risks detected no threats.”

The TSE President confirmed no evidence of international interference in the elections. The Organization of American States (OAS) observation mission reported the process proceeded smoothly under adequate security conditions.

Former President Dilma Rousseff was heckled and insulted while voting in Belo Horizonte; her supporters responded by chanting slogans loudly.

Polling stations began closing at 5:00 PM Brasília time (8:00 PM GMT). Voters still in line retained their right to vote. Vote counting began immediately upon closure.

Lula voted at a school in São Bernardo do Campo, near São Paulo. After voting, he unfurled a Brazilian flag at the polling station and stated: “We succeeded in raising the minimum wage and revolutionizing education. We must do more to secure Brazil’s future.” After voting, Lula added: “What is at stake is Brazil’s future.”

Lula and First Lady Rosângela da Silva monitored the vote count from their home in São Paulo before moving to a hotel in the city center to address the press.^【32】

Flávio Bolsonaro voted in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro. He and his wife, Fernanda Bolsonaro, voted at a school in the Vila Isabel neighborhood of northern Rio, where Lula supporters reacted to his arrival. After voting, Bolsonaro said he sought to “liberate the Brazilian people” and added: “Brazil needs change. Brazil cannot endure more pain, such as so many women killed and excessive taxes.” Bolsonaro reiterated his confidence in winning the first round.^【33】

In remarks to journalists during the day, Bolsonaro said “Brazil cannot endure more pain,” criticized the country’s “excessive taxes,” and accused the left of “persecution.”

^{Brazilian President Lula speaks in São Paulo following the first-round elections, 4 October 2026 – (Anadolu Agency)}

When more than 47% of votes had been counted (21:55 GMT), Flávio Bolsonaro’s vote share stood at 50.20%, while Lula’s was 41.63%.^【34】 When approximately 65% of votes were counted (22:30 GMT), Bolsonaro’s share fell below 50% to 49.58%, while Lula’s rose to 42.25%. At this stage, Brazilian polling firm Datafolha predicted no candidate would achieve the majority needed to win in the first round and that the two would face each other in a second round on 25 October. When approximately 85% of votes were counted, Flávio Bolsonaro received 48.47% and Lula received 43.49%.^【35】

Brazil’s electoral authority announced, when over 97% of votes were counted (00:05 GMT), that Lula and Bolsonaro would proceed to a second round on 25 October. At this stage, Bolsonaro received 47.45% of valid votes and Lula received 44.66%.^【36】

With 99.8% of votes counted in the first round, former President Jair Bolsonaro’s son, Flávio Bolsonaro, received 47% of the vote, while President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received 45.1%. Flávio Bolsonaro received 56.1 million votes, and Lula da Silva received 53.8 million votes. Other candidates collectively received 9.3 million votes, or 7.8% of the total. Lula and Bolsonaro together received over 92% of the vote; eliminated candidates received a combined 7.82%.

Data for the lowest-voted candidates as of 5 October 2026 according to the TSE system are as follows:

Voters elected all 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, 54 of the 81 seats in the Senate, and governorships in all 26 states and the Federal District.

Initial results indicate that Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party emerged as the party with the most governors, senators, and federal deputies. Right-wing parties, particularly in the Senate, made significant gains and won key governorships. Michelle Bolsonaro and Carlos Bolsonaro were elected to the Senate, and Jair Renan Bolsonaro was elected to the Chamber of Deputies.^【38】

Shortly after the results were announced, Flávio Bolsonaro addressed journalists and supporters outside his home in Brasília: “Brazil wants change; this is what today’s results read.” Bolsonaro, referring to Lula’s party, declared: “This is the end of the Workers’ Party era.” He expressed being “very happy” to lead Lula in the first round and added: “I am very happy about the real possibility of decisively electing a modern government for Brazil in three weeks.”

^{Brazilian President Lula speaks in São Paulo after the first-round elections, 4 October 2026 – (Anadolu Ajansı)}

At age 80, President Lula da Silva said the outcome was “unexpected” and that he believed he could have won in the first round. Speaking to supporters in São Paulo, Lula declared: “Tomorrow we start a new campaign.” He added: “I am strong in the second round. We will see who has the best plan.” Regarding his opponent’s political background, Lula stated: “There is uncertainty with a biography tied to a dark past on the other side.” Lula also said: “I admit I was convinced I would win in the first round. The game is about to begin. We are in extra time. We will win the hearts of the Brazilian people in extra time.”

U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the U.S. electoral system on social media, citing Brazil’s results. Trump noted that Brazil’s results were announced on the same day, while U.S. elections take weeks to conclude despite far smaller margins, arguing that “voting has been corrupted” in the United States.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who won his election with Trump’s support in June, stated on social media: “May God, who showed mercy to Colombia, show mercy to our sister country. Real change is defeating the left.” Argentine President Javier Milei congratulated Bolsonaro, saying: “The Americas are made up of citizens who wish to live in freedom.”

The presidential runoff will be held on 25 October 2026 between Flávio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The candidates now have a three-week campaign period before the second round.