Lula defeats Flávio Bolsonaro by 4.4 million votes in chaotic runoff

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured 4.4 million more votes than his opponent in the Brazilian presidential runoff held on Sunday, according to the country's electoral court.

The court certified Lula as the winner with 51.8 percent of the counted ballots. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, conceded the math but rejected the process. He demanded the results be annulled and refused to concede defeat.

The dispute stems from a ruling issued by Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin just three minutes before the original 5 p.m. local deadline. Zanin ordered polling places to remain open for two additional hours. The decision came in response to requests from both campaigns. Lula’s team cited transit issues in São Paulo and Salvador, cities that typically favor the incumbent. Bolsonaro’s team pointed to heavy rainfall in southern Brazil, a region where he holds a lead.

Associated Press reporters observed that voting ended near the original deadline in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro. It remains unclear how many locations actually stayed open late. Zanin previously served as Lula’s lawyer, a fact Bolsonaro used to argue that the rules were changed midgame. Bolsonaro stated, "It is impossible to recognize the results of the election in the context of these things that happened."

Legal experts note that it is uncertain whether Bolsonaro’s complaint meets the threshold for annulment. He can request a recount if he presents evidence of fraud, though a recount might not change the final tally. Lula will turn 81 on Tuesday. He is scheduled to begin his fourth non-consecutive term on January 5, 2027.

Lula addressed supporters in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro’s Cinelândia Square after the certification. He described the victory as a defeat for denialism and lies. He emphasized national independence, declaring that Brazil will not accept being anyone's backyard. Car horns sounded in the streets of Rio as the result was confirmed.

Rodrigo Valentim, a 51-year-old businessman who backed Bolsonaro, said a new Lula government would hurt the economy. He argued that the country is collapsing. The election took place amid high costs of living and security concerns. Bolsonaro campaigned on tough crime policies and lower food prices. Lula spent on incentives to win undecided voters. Both candidates face corruption suspicions involving relatives and allies.

The outcome reverses a recent regional trend of right-of-center, Trump-aligned candidates taking power. Brazil’s economy, valued at $2.6 trillion, is expected to continue resisting U.S. tariff demands. Lula had a difficult path to victory. Bolsonaro led him by more than 2.2 million votes in the first round earlier this month. This is the first time since the military dictatorship ended in 1985 that the runner-up in the first round won the presidency.

Lula reorganized his campaign after the initial loss. He courted young voters, mobilized supporters to defend democratic values, and expanded government initiatives. Lula, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega are all aged 80, making them the oldest leaders in the Americas.