Brazil's Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Tied in Polls Days Before Election

In late September 2026, with Brazil's presidential election about ten days away, polls show President Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro essentially tied. A Datafolha survey puts both at 38% in the interior, while Lula leads in metropolitan areas. For comparison, Lula held a 14-point lead over Jair Bolsonaro at the same stage of the 2022 race.

Lula is set to announce a ban on betting sites on Friday in São Paulo, after the government collected around 19 billion reais from the sector. The cost of living and gambling have become central issues in the campaign. Lula has also been cautious in Pernambuco, avoiding friction with governor Raquel Lyra after comments about sterilization.