Argentine presidential election, 1868

Argentine general election, 1868

← 1862 12 April 1868 1874 →
156 members of the Electoral College 79 votes needed to win
Nominee Domingo Sarmiento Justo José de Urquiza Party Independent Federal Home state San Juan Entre Ríos Running mate Adolfo Alsina Electoral vote 79 26 States carried 7 3 Percentage 60.3% 19.8%
President before election Bartolomé Mitre Liberal Elected President Domingo Sarmiento Independent

Bartolomé Mitre
Liberal

Domingo Sarmiento
Independent

The Argentine presidential election of 1868 was held on 12 April to choose the president of Argentina. Domingo Sarmiento was elected.

Presiding over a prosperous economy overshadowed somewhat by the costly Paraguayan War, President Mitre was at pains to avoid risking the tenuous national unity his administration had secured. Though he hand-picked prospective candidates, Mitre avoided the appearance of direct support for any one figure, while limiting the field to those he considered acceptable. Electors from Buenos Aires Province favored candidate Adolfo Alsina, who was instead persuaded by Mitre to run for the vice-presidency. The nomination was handed to the Ambassador to the United States, Domingo Sarmiento, who remained at his post and did not campaign. Mitre also supported former Unitarian Party leader Rufino de Elizalde and his running mate General Wenceslao Paunero, a key figure in Mitre's victory at the Battle of Pavón. These candidates were all preferred by the president over that year's dark horse, former President Justo José de Urquiza (whom Mitre attempted to dissuade from running for fear of the separatist conflict his presence might provoke).

These candidates were, with the exception of Sarmiento, contentious in many circles and provided the new system its first real test. The electoral college met on 12 April 1868, and selected Sarmiento by 79 out of 131 votes, making this the only closely contested race during this era.

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