Flávio Bolsonaro is a senator for Rio de Janeiro and the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. He won the first round of Brazil's presidential election on October 4 and faces President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the runoff on Sunday, October 25, with polls showing him narrowly ahead.
He is running because his father cannot. Jair Bolsonaro is barred from office until 2030 and is serving a 27-year prison sentence over the plot to overturn the 2022 election.
Flávio Bolsonaro at a glance
| Born | April 30, 1981, Resende, Rio de Janeiro state |
| Party | Liberal Party (PL), since 2021 |
| Current office | Federal senator for Rio de Janeiro, since 2019 |
| Earlier office | Rio de Janeiro state deputy, 2003–2019 |
| Family | Son of Jair Bolsonaro; brothers Carlos and Eduardo are also politicians |
| First-round result | 47.03%, about 56.1 million votes |
How did he get here?
Flávio Bolsonaro entered politics young, winning a seat in Rio's state assembly in 2003. He ran for mayor of Rio in 2016 and came fourth, then moved to the federal Senate in 2019, the same year his father became president.
He announced his presidential run on December 5, 2025, saying his father had chosen him. Jair Bolsonaro, who was arrested in 2025, endorsed him as the Liberal Party's candidate.
What does he stand for?
His campaign is built around public security, promising a crackdown on crime and drug trafficking. Crime ranks among Brazilians' top concerns in surveys.
He has the backing of Donald Trump, Argentina's Javier Milei and other right-wing leaders in a region that has moved sharply to the right.
What controversies has he faced?
The "rachadinha" case. Prosecutors accused him of a salary-kickback scheme in his state assembly office, allegedly run through former aide Fabrício Queiroz. He was charged with fraud, embezzlement and money laundering. In 2021 a higher court annulled key rulings and the evidence gathered through bank-secrecy breaches.
The "Dark Horse" film. Brazilian media reported that he sought up to 134 million reais from banker Daniel Vorcaro, linked to Banco Master, to fund a film about his father. He first denied the report, then acknowledged seeking private sponsorship, saying no public money was involved. Opposition lawmakers have asked for an investigation.
Past statements. In 2011 he defended Brazil's former military dictatorship and backed the death penalty for heinous crimes.
Can he win?
Yes. Recent polls put him one to two points ahead of Lula, within the margin of error. Datafolha has it 47% to 45%. See the latest runoff polls.
If he wins, he would take office on January 1, 2027, completing a remarkable comeback for a political family whose patriarch is in prison.
