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Gone quiet · last update Jan 1, 2023 / Brazil

Brazil's 2022 presidential election: Lula's defeat of Bolsonaro

Overview · reviewed October 21, 2026

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil's October 30, 2022 runoff, returning to the presidency for a third term after four years of Bolsonaro's far-right government.[1][2] Bolsonaro did not publicly concede, and his supporters blocked roads and called on the military to keep him in power before Lula was sworn in on January 1, 2023.[3][4][5]

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Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

Bolsonaro did not publicly concede, and his supporters blocked roads and called on the military to keep him in power before Lula was sworn in on January 1, 2023.[3][4][5]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Nov 2021: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2021: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2022: average weekly share under 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2022: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 13% (left 5%, center 5%, right 3%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 4% (left 2%, center 2%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 3% (left 2%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 7 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (15 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Jan 2, 202355515 of 1918%
Dec 26, 2022107219 of 16312%
Nov 21, 202255414 of 1668%
Nov 14, 202255010 of 1865%
Nov 7, 20223115 of 1913%
Oct 31, 202221261158 of 18132%
Oct 24, 20221212731 of 18117%
Oct 17, 20222237 of 1774%
Oct 3, 20221010626 of 19114%
Sep 26, 2022712625 of 18713%
Aug 29, 20221203 of 1932%
Aug 15, 20221214 of 1832%
Jun 6, 20222439 of 1865%
May 2, 20221102 of 2001%
Nov 8, 20212114 of 1882%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Dec 31, 2022 · first reported · Headline from FOX 29 Philadelphia

    Brazil's Lula sworn in as president amid a polarized country

Background

Bolsonaro joined the Liberal Party in November 2021 ahead of his reelection bid.[6] The campaign officially began in August 2022 with Lula leading the polls amid concern about political violence and threats to democracy.[7] In their first debate, Bolsonaro accused Lula of massive corruption and drew accusations of "destroying Brazil" in return,[8] and coverage described the vote as one that could determine the fate of the Amazon after record deforestation.[9] In the first round in early October, Lula won the larger share of the vote but fell short of an outright win, and Bolsonaro outperformed polls that had shown him losing badly.[10]

In the final week of the runoff campaign, Roberto Jefferson, a former congressman allied with Bolsonaro, wounded two federal police officers while resisting arrest,[11] and the two candidates repeatedly called each other liars in a bruising final debate.[12] Lula won the runoff on October 30.[1]

Bolsonaro's supporters refused to accept the result. Truckers who backed him blocked hundreds of roads,[13] and thousands gathered outside army headquarters even as he authorized his chief of staff to begin the transition.[4] The defense ministry's report on the election found nothing to substantiate claims of fraud,[14] and the electoral authority rejected Bolsonaro's demand to annul votes cast on most of the country's voting machines over a software bug.[15] Lula was sworn in for his third term on January 1, 2023.[5]

Supporting stories (15)
  1. Lula defeats Bolsonaro to become Brazil's president -- again
  2. Brazil's new leader Lula rises from ashes at 77
  3. Lula's team meets Bolsonaro as Brazil's transition kicks off
  4. Bolsonaro supporters urge Brazil military to keep him in power
  5. Brazil’s Lula sworn in, vows accountability and rebuilding
  6. Brazil's Bolsonaro to join centrist party, eyeing reelection
  7. Campaigning begins in Brazil’s tense Bolsonaro-Lula presidential showdown
  8. Bolsonaro, Lula trade jabs in Brazil debate
  9. Brazil's election could determine the fate of the Amazon after record deforestation
  10. The presidential election in Brazil heads to a runoff between Lula and Bolsonaro
  11. Brazil pol and Bolsonaro ally refuses arrest, injures police
  12. Brazil's Bolsonaro and Lula spar in bruising final debate before vote
  13. Brazil truckers jam traffic to protest Bolsonaro loss
  14. Brazil armed forces' report on election finds no fraud
  15. Brazil election agency rejects Bolsonaro push to void votes

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 23 recorded updates

December 2022

  1. Brazil’s Lula sworn in, vows accountability and rebuildingHeadline from Portland Press Herald · 33 outlets

November 2022

  1. Brazil election agency rejects Bolsonaro push to void votesHeadline from MyNorthwest · 15 outlets
  2. At climate summit, Brazil's Lula promises new day for AmazonHeadline from Los Angeles Times · 15 outlets
  3. Brazil armed forces' report on election finds no fraudHeadline from Washington Post · 6 outlets
  4. Lula's team meets Bolsonaro as Brazil's transition kicks offHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 9 outlets
  5. Bolsonaro supporters urge Brazil military to keep him in powerHeadline from Digital Journal · 8 outlets

October 2022

  1. Brazil truckers jam traffic to protest Bolsonaro lossHeadline from MyNorthwest · 11 outlets
  2. Lula defeats Bolsonaro to become Brazil's president -- againHeadline from ABC 10 Sacramento · 61 outlets
  3. Brazil's new leader Lula rises from ashes at 77Headline from Digital Journal · 7 outlets
  4. Brazil's Bolsonaro and Lula spar in bruising final debate before voteHeadline from France 24 · 10 outlets
  5. Brazil's Bolsonaro tells Supreme Court election 'is over'Headline from MyNorthwest · 9 outlets
  6. Bolsonaro, Lula make final appeals for votes ahead of Brazil's runoffHeadline from PBS NewsHour · 5 outlets
  7. Brazil election: Lula wins vote but runoff with Bolsonaro looms – videoHeadline from The Guardian · 7 outlets
  8. Brazil pol and Bolsonaro ally refuses arrest, injures policeHeadline from WFMZ Allentown · 8 outlets
  9. Brazil's Bolsonaro, Lula in first head-to-head debateHeadline from Digital Journal · 9 outlets

September 2022

  1. The presidential election in Brazil heads to a runoff between Lula and BolsonaroHeadline from Delaware Public Media · 44 outlets
  2. Brazil's election could determine the fate of the Amazon after record deforestationHeadline from Wyoming Public Media · 6 outlets
  3. Bolsonaro and Lula trade barbs in feisty final debate ahead of Brazil electionHeadline from France 24 · 4 outlets

August 2022

  1. Bolsonaro, Lula trade jabs in Brazil debateHeadline from Digital Journal · 6 outlets
  2. Campaigning begins in Brazil’s tense Bolsonaro-Lula presidential showdownHeadline from France 24 · 6 outlets

June 2022

  1. Biden, Bolsonaro hold 1st meeting amid election worriesHeadline from Omaha World-Herald · 9 outlets

May 2022

  1. Lula to launch official campaign for Brazil presidencyHeadline from France 24 · 6 outlets

November 2021

  1. Brazil's Bolsonaro to join centrist party, eyeing reelectionHeadline from MyNorthwest · 5 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →