1861 Mexican general election

General elections were held in Mexico in 1861. Although incumbent president Benito Juárez received a majority (53%) of the popular vote,^[1] opponents claimed his margin of victory was not enough and a Congressional vote was required. The Congressional election committee released two reports, one produced by the majority declaring Juárez the winner, and one stating that there should be a Congressional vote between Juárez and runner-up Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada. The majority report was approved by a vote of 61–55,^[2] and Juárez was subsequently inaugurated on 15 June.^[3]

1861 Mexican general election

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Presidential election

Nominee Benito Juárez Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada Jesús González Ortega Popular vote 5,161 2,700 1,800 Percentage 53.41% 27.94% 18.63%

President before election Benito Juárez Elected President Benito Juárez

Results

President

Candidate	Votes	%
Benito Juárez	5,161	53.41
Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada	2,700	27.94
Jesús González Ortega	1,800	18.63
José Bernardo Couto	1	0.01
Mariano Riva Palacio	1	0.01
Total	9,663	100.00
Source: Ramírez Rancaño

References

1. Mario Ramírez Rancaño (1977) "Estadísticas electorales: presidenciales" Revista Mexicana de Sociología, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp271–299
2. Ivie Edward Cadenhead (1973) Benito Juárez, p76
3. IMPORTANT FROM MEXICO.; Unfortanate Condition of Affairs Dissensions Among the Liberals The Presidency Death of Degollado Outrages of the Church Party Miscellaneous. The New York Times, 18 July 1861