Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has established a commanding lead in the 2026 presidential runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro, after an election night marked by multiple reversals in the partial count.
With 99.75% of polling sections processed, the official TSE count displayed by Votendi at 21:11 Brasília time on 25 October showed Lula on 51.75% of valid votes and Flávio Bolsonaro on 48.25%. The figures are a near-complete count snapshot, rather than final certified results. Datafolha had already projected Lula’s victory, according to Reuters.
How the lead changed during election night
Earlier in the count, Flávio Bolsonaro briefly led Lula. At one reporting checkpoint, with 40.92% of polling sections processed, Bolsonaro had 50.19% against Lula’s 49.81%. Subsequent returns reversed that position, and Lula’s advantage grew as more sections reported.
The sequence illustrates why partial national totals can shift substantially as different municipalities and regions report. The percentage of polling sections processed should not be confused with the percentage of ballots counted.
Datafolha projects a Lula victory
Datafolha’s projection preceded completion of the official count. A media projection is distinct from the electoral authorities’ certification, which remains the definitive source of the final result.
What happens next?
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) will complete the official tally and associated procedures. Statements by either campaign and any legal challenges should be assessed against official announcements rather than speculation.
Votendi will continue displaying automatically updated figures on its Brazil 2026 runoff live results page.
Source note: This report uses the TSE snapshot displayed by Votendi at 21:11 Brasília time on 25 October 2026, and Reuters’ reporting of the Datafolha projection. The numerical figures may change as remaining sections report.
