The Revolutionary Elections in Costa Rica in 1889

Abstract The chapter examines the highly disputed or revolutionary 1889 election in Costa Rica. For the first time ever, an opposition political party managed to win what this chapter calls a breakthrough election and take control of the presidency. The 1889 election involved violence, fraud, and a minor barracks revolt. The electoral campaign climaxed with a citizen insurrection to prevent the incumbent Liberal government and its candidate, Asención Esquivel Ibarra, from the hastily organized Progressive Liberal Party, from ignoring its defeat at the polls. While the government never released the official tally of the popular vote, results indicate that the opposition Democratic Constitutional Party won a lopsided victory of more than 80.7 percent of the electoral college vote.