1950 Brazilian general election
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General elections were held in
Social Democratic Party remained the largest party in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, although they lost their majority in the former. Voter turnout was 72.1% in the presidential election, 72.0% in the Chamber elections and 77.7% in the Senate elections.[2]
Background
After living in self-imposed exile in his
Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), one of the two he founded after he decided to put an end to his 15-year dictatorship. Vargas, although in exile, remained active on the sidelines of Brazilian politics during the presidency of his former War Minister, Eurico Gaspar Dutra
. He notably criticized his successor's economic policies, taking a hard nationalist and populist tone which appealed to the base of the PTB, organized labour.
In April 1950, the
Social Democratic Party, also pro-Vargas but based more around industrialists and state political machines, rejected the idea of forming a coalition with the PTB or the UDN and decided to run its own candidate. They nominated Cristiano Machado, a little-known congressman for Minas Gerais
.
However, Vargas was able to forge an alliance with a number of PSD state leaders, notably in his own state of
João Café Filho. Vargas also assured himself of the support, or at least approval, of the military which had deposed him in 1945. He reconciled himself with the dominant figure of the military then, Góes Monteiro, who had played a role in his 1945 overthrow.[3]
The
center-right National Democratic Union (UDN), noted for its radical anti-Vargas posture, once again nominated Eduardo Gomes as its candidate. The party proved woefully unable to expand its narrow electoral base, and not even the anti-Vargas rhetoric of 1945 could deliver more votes. The UDN and Gomes also proved their little comprehension of the evolving Brazilian political scene by supporting abolishing the minimum wage instituted in Vargas' past administration.[4]
During the Eurico Gaspar Dutra administration, the Brazilian Communist Party had its license revoked by the Superior Electoral Court in the context of the early Cold War. Communists oriented their followers not to vote, but a significant share of them voted on Vargas.
Presidential candidates
- Former PTB)
- Former Air Minister Eduardo Gomes of Rio de Janeiro (UDN)
- PSD)
- João Mangabeira (PSB)
Results
President
Vargas won a convincing victory, with 48.7% of the vote and close to an absolute majority of votes cast. Despite the UDN's claim that he was not constitutionally elected (they claimed that a candidate needed an absolute majority of the votes), Vargas was inaugurated President in January 1951.[5]
As of 2023, this remains the last time that the bellwether state of Minas Gerais voted for the losing candidate.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Social Democratic Party | 1,697,193 | 21.49 | ||
| João Mangabeira | Brazilian Socialist Party | 9,466 | 0.12 | |
| Total | 7,898,083 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 7,898,083 | 95.68 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 356,906 | 4.32 | ||
| Total votes | 8,254,989 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 11,455,149 | 72.06 | ||
| Source: Nohlen | ||||
Vice-President
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PTB | 2,520,790 | 35.76 | ||
| Odilon Braga | National Democratic Union | 2,344,841 | 33.26 | |
| Altino Arantes Marques | Republican Party | 1,649,309 | 23.40 | |
| Vitorino Freire | Social Labour Party | 524,079 | 7.43 | |
| Alípio Correia Neto | Brazilian Socialist Party | 10,800 | 0.15 | |
| Total | 7,049,819 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 7,049,819 | 85.40 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,205,170 | 14.60 | ||
| Total votes | 8,254,989 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 11,455,149 | 72.06 | ||
| Source: DM | ||||
Chamber of Deputies
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
PTB | 67,983 | 0.89 | – | |
| Christian Democratic Party | 56,965 | 0.74 | 2 | |
| Liberator Party | 55,338 | 0.72 | 5 | |
| Brazilian Socialist Party | 36,638 | 0.48 | 1 | |
| Others | 148,477 | 1.94 | 0 | |
| Total | 7,662,213 | 100.00 | 304 | |
| Valid votes | 7,662,213 | 92.98 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 578,783 | 7.02 | ||
| Total votes | 8,240,996 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 11,445,149 | 72.00 | ||
| Source: Nohlen | ||||
Senate
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brazilian Labour Party | 814,796 | 10.45 | 5 | |
| National Democratic Union | 749,989 | 9.62 | 4 | |
| Republican Party | 566,520 | 7.27 | 2 | |
| Social Progressive Party | 524,261 | 6.72 | 3 | |
| Popular Representation Party | 244,769 | 3.14 | 0 | |
| Social Labour Party | 126,437 | 1.62 | 1 | |
| Liberator Party | 88,614 | 1.14 | 0 | |
| Orienting Labour Party | 56,180 | 0.72 | 0 | |
| Labour Republican Party | 46,325 | 0.59 | 0 | |
| Brazilian Socialist Party | 15,458 | 0.20 | 1 | |
| Others | 3,358,438 | 43.08 | 0 | |
| Total | 7,796,136 | 100.00 | 22 | |
| Valid votes | 7,796,136 | 87.79 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,084,313 | 12.21 | ||
| Total votes | 8,880,449 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 11,427,441 | 77.71 | ||
| Source: Nohlen | ||||
References
- ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
- ^ Nohlen, pp191-232
- ^ Skidmore, TE: Politics in Brazil: 1930-1964, page 75. Oxford University Press, 2007.
- ^ Skidmore, TE: Politics in Brazil: 1930-1964, page 77. Oxford University Press, 2007.
- ^ Skidmore, TE: Politics in Brazil: 1930-1964, page 101. Oxford University Press, 2007.
| Presidential elections | |
|---|---|
| Parliamentary elections | |
| Gubernatorial elections | |
| State elections | |
| Municipal elections | |
| Referendums | |
