New Poll Shows Lula vs. Flávio Bolsonaro Race for 2026
Listen to the story
A new opinion poll has shown a possible race between President Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro for Brazil's 2026 presidential election.
The poll gives updated numbers about how people might vote in São Paulo.
According to the report, the poll also shows a similar comparison in the state of Pernambuco.
Flávio Bolsonaro is a senator and the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
He has become a well-known name in right-wing politics in Brazil.
Lula, whose full name is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is the current president.
The report does not give exact percentages for either candidate.
Polls like this one are common before big elections in Brazil.
They try to show which candidate has more support from voters.
Different states can have different results, which is why São Paulo and Pernambuco are shown separately.
São Paulo is Brazil's most populous state, and its voters are important in national elections.
Pernambuco, in the northeast, is also a key region for political support.
More polls are expected before the 2026 election as candidates prepare their campaigns.
These early numbers may change a lot before the actual vote happens.
For now, the poll suggests that Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro could be strong names to watch in this race.
Vocabulary10 words
- opinion poll
- a study asking many people what they think
- presidential election
- a vote to choose a country's top leader
- right-wing
- political ideas that are often more conservative
- percentages
- numbers out of 100 showing a part of something
- candidate
- a person who wants to win an election
- populous
- having a lot of people living there
- campaigns
- planned activities to win votes
- senator
- a member of part of the government
- voters
- people who choose in an election
- region
- a large area of a country
Quiz
Answer key
1. Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro 2. He is his son 3. São Paulo and Pernambuco
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A new _____ poll has shown a possible race between President Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro for Brazil's 2026 presidential election.
The poll gives updated numbers about how people might _____ in São Paulo.
According to the report, the poll also shows a similar comparison in the state of _____.
Flávio Bolsonaro is a senator and the son of former president Jair _____.
He has become a well-known name in _____ politics in Brazil.
The report does not give exact _____ for either candidate.
Polls like this one are common before big _____ in Brazil.
São Paulo is Brazil's most _____ state, and its voters are important in national elections.
More polls are expected before the 2026 election as candidates prepare their _____.
For now, the poll suggests that Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro could be strong names to watch in this _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think opinion polls are important before elections?
- What might explain different results in São Paulo compared to Pernambuco?
- Do you think early polls, like this one for 2026, are reliable? Why or why not?
- How important do you think family names, like Bolsonaro's, are in politics?