Brazil's presidential race heads to Lula–Bolsonaro run-off as right gains ground

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, left, and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, right, face off in an October 25 runoff after a tight first round. Mauro Pimentel, Sergio Lima/AFP via Getty Images hide caption Mauro Pimentel, Sergio Lima/AFP via Getty Images RIO DE JANEIRO —Brazil's presidential race is heading to a runoff between left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro after neither candidate secured the more than 50% of valid votes needed to win outright. The race was tight, with Bolsonaro finishing ahead of Lula in Sunday's first-round election. With over 98% vote counted, Flavio Bolsonaro leads with over 47% of the vote and Lula holds second place with 44% of the vote. If that sounds like déjà -vú, it's because in many ways, this election is a rerun: Lula narrowly defeated Bolsonaro's father, former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, in 2022. Jair Bolsonaro is now serving a 27-year prison sentence under house arrest after being convicted of plotting to overturn that election and prevent Lula from taking office. Flávio has pledged to carry on his father's legacy. But Sunday's results also pointed to a broader rightw...