Brazil holds presidential runoff election between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro on October 25, 2026
Brazilians voted on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in a presidential runoff between incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 80, and right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro led the first round on October 4 with roughly 47% to Lula's 45%, and most final polls showed the race statistically tied within the margin of error. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after the 2022 election.
37
Divergence score
This event sits in the top 11% of divergence this week. 16 outlets covered it, splitting into 16 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
16 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 16 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
CNN
Globe and Mail
Washington Times
The Guardian
Breitbart
Fox News
BBC
NPR
Al Jazeera
Washington Examiner
Reuters
Newsmax
AP News
Financial Times
Le Monde
Bloomberg
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
CNN
Brazil’s election tests Lula’s leftist legacy against Bolsonaro’s right-wing movement
legacy vs. movement, crime-dominated · neutral
Washington Times
Bolsonaro victory could bring Brazil's rare-earth riches closer to Washington
geopolitical minerals and US alignment · positive
First to report
- Washington Timesfirst
- NPR+11.8 h
- Globe and Mail+21.8 h
- Breitbart+22.0 h
- Fox News+22.6 h
- Newsmax+25.0 h
- Reuters+34.1 h
- AP News+40.9 h
- Al Jazeera+42.4 h
- CNN+43.8 h
- The Guardian+45.0 h
- Bloomberg+48.3 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
Headlines that changed · the same article, re-listed with a new headline
Globe and Mail · 2026-10-23 21:21 UTC
Some of Lula’s strongholds flipped for Flávio Bolsonaro. On Sunday, we’ll see where Brazil falls
The Guardian · 2026-10-24 22:02 UTC
Tens of thousands of Lula supporters rally on eve of Brazilian election runoff
The split, in one line
Coverage splits on what the vote is about: some frame it as a crime and change referendum, others as a battle for democracy against Bolsonarismo, and one as a contest over rare-earth riches and Washington ties.
How each outlet covered it
Two readings of the same facts
The left and the right lead with different language. The loaded words each chose are highlighted.
THE LEFT
“Brazil’s election tests Lula’s leftist legacy against Bolsonaro’s right-wing movement”CNN CNN LEFT
37DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Brazil: Flavio Bolsonaro Ahead of Socialist Lula in Most Polls Hours Before Runoff”B Breitbart RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Bolsonaro and Lula in Dead Heat a Day Before Runoff, Poll Shows” · Globe and Mail, BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters, AP News, Le Monde, Bloomberg
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 16 outlets put it
LEFT3
CNNCNN Brazil’s election tests Lula’s leftist legacy against Bolsonaro’s right-wing movement 16h ago GThe Guardian More than one million Lula supporters rally on eve of Brazilian election runoff 15h ago NPRNPR Brazil's runoff: Lula's legacy vs. Bolsonaro's dynasty 2d ago CENTER3
RReuters Bolsonaro, Lula about even in polls for Brazil runoff vote 1d ago APAP News What to know as Brazilians choose between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro on Sunday - AP News 19h ago BLBloomberg Bolsonaro and Lula in Dead Heat a Day Before Runoff, Poll Shows 11h ago RIGHT-CENTER1
FTFinancial Times Bolsonaro and Lula face off in knife-edge Brazil election - Financial Times 4h ago RIGHT5
WTWashington Times Bolsonaro victory could bring Brazil's rare-earth riches closer to Washington 2d ago BBreitbart Brazil: Flavio Bolsonaro Ahead of Socialist Lula in Most Polls Hours Before Runoff 1d ago FOXFox News Brazil’s rapid election count puts spotlight on voting security ahead of US midterms 1d ago WEWashington Examiner Brazilians head to the polls on Sunday to elect their next president 6h ago NMNewsmax Flavio Bolsonaro Leads in Most Final Brazil Runoff Polls - Newsmax 1d ago INTERNATIONAL4
GMGlobe and Mail Lula struggles to keep his grip as Brazil’s election nears 1d ago BBCBBC Voters in Brazil to choose between Lula and Bolsonaro's son 9h ago AJAl Jazeera Brazil’s Lula and Bolsonaro about even ahead of election run-off: Poll 17h ago LMLe Monde Brazil's Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro neck and neck after bitter runoff campaign 5h ago 6 tracked claims across 16 outlets
Fact ledger
All6Claimed2Corroborated4
3/16
Claimed
Flávio Bolsonaro leads in most final polls (15 of 17 surveys)
Corroborated
Disputed
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