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Bolsonaro’s lead over Lula narrows ahead of Brazil runoff, Datafolha poll shows

By Thomson Reuters Oct 15, 2026 | 4:42 PM

SAO PAULO, Oct 15 (Reuters) – Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro continues to slightly lead President Luiz ​Inacio Lula da Silva heading ‌to the October 25 election runoff, but the gap has narrowed, a Datafolha poll showed on Thursday.

The senator, the ‌eldest ​son of former ⁠President Jair Bolsonaro, ⁠would receive 47% of the vote compared with 45% for the president, according to the poll. ​Last week, a Datafolha poll showed the younger Bolsonaro leading ⁠Lula 49% to ⁠45%.

• The poll’s result still ​represents a technical tie as the ​margin of error is plus or ‌minus 2 percentage points

• 6% of the respondents said they would cast a blank vote, and ⁠undecided voters made up 2%, the poll showed

• In valid votes, which exclude ⁠blank ‌votes and undecided voters, ⁠Bolsonaro leads Lula 51% to ​49%

• ‌Datafolha surveyed 2,520 people ​between October ⁠13-14

• The younger Bolsonaro surprisingly led Lula in the first-round vote earlier this month

(Reporting by Fernando Cardoso in Sao Paulo; Editing by ​Andre Romani)