1955 Philippine Senate election

A senatorial election in the Philippines was held on November 8, 1955. This was a midterm election, the date when the winners took office falling halfway through President Ramon Magsaysay's four-year term.

1955 Philippine general election

November 8, 1955
8 (of the 24) seats in the Senate and 1 mid-term vacancy 13 seats needed for a majority
Leader Eulogio Rodriguez Diosdado Macapagal Party Nacionalista Liberal Leader's seat Nationwide at-large Nationwide at-large (lost) Seats before 14 7 Seats after 21 0 Seat change 7 7 Popular vote 17,319,389 7,395,988 Percentage 67.6% 28.9% Swing 27.7% 7.1%
Senate President before election Eulogio Rodriguez Nacionalista Elected Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez Nacionalista

Summary

Since Magsaysay was very popular midway through his term, there were 10 candidates who ran under the Nacionalista banner. His adoptive Nacionalista Party continued to grow in strength with the absorption of their erstwhile coalition partner, the Democratic Party; but a pillar of the NP could not hide his opposition to the president. Senator Claro M. Recto, one of those who actively sought the adoption of the former Defense Secretary into the NP fold in 1953, had grown critical of Magsaysay, calling him a “banana dictator” and “American puppet,” among other unflattering names. In retaliation, Magsaysay refused the inclusion of Recto into the NP Senate slate of 1955, prompting the Batangueño leader to seek support for his candidacy with the Liberals.

Though Lorenzo Tañada of the NCP had cooperated with the NP in 1953, Recto became the first “guest candidate” in Philippine electoral history, when he was included in the Liberal Party lineup but did not resign his membership as a Nacionalista.[1]

Special elections

There was a special election held for the vacant seat of Senator Carlos P. Garcia after he won as Vice President in 1953. Roseller T. Lim won and served the unexpired term of Garcia from 1955 to 1957.

Results

Per candidate

 Summary of the November 8, 1955 Philippine Senate election result

Rank	Candidate	Party		Votes	%
1	Pacita Madrigal-Warns		Nacionalista	2,544,716	50.4%
2	Lorenzo Sumulong		Nacionalista	2,250,780	44.6%
3	Quintin Paredes		Nacionalista	2,171,415	43.0%
4	Francisco Soc Rodrigo		Nacionalista	2,132,094	42.2%
5	Pedro Sabido		Nacionalista	1,821,098	36.1%
6	Claro M. Recto		Nacionalista^1	1,716,984	34.0%
7	Domocao Alonto		Nacionalista	1,619,109	32.1%
8	Decoroso Rosales		Nacionalista	1,600,255	31.7%
9	Diosdado Macapagal		Liberal	1,454,200	28.8%
10	Juan Chioco		Nacionalista	1,452,693	28.8%
11	Camilo Osías		Liberal	1,388,137	27.5%
12	Geronima Pecson		Liberal	1,340,800	26.6%
13	Macario Peralta		Liberal	1,207,495	23.9%
14	Enrique B. Magalona		Liberal	1,086,054	21.5%
15	Pio Pedrosa		Liberal	919,302	18.2%
16	William Chiongbian		Liberal	884,077	17.5%
17	Alfredo Abcede		Federal Party	22,769	0.5%
18	Concepcion R. Lim de Plana		Nacionalista	10,245	0.2%
19	Vicente A. Rafael		Independent	4,551	0.1%
20	Filemon Blay		Independent	1,179	0.0%
21	Praxedes Floro		Independent	1,081	0.0%
Total turnout				5,046,488	77.8%
Total votes				25,629,034	N/A
Registered voters				6,487,061	100.0%
Note: A total of 21 candidates ran for senator.				Source:[2]

^1 Liberal Party's guest candidate

Per party

Party		Popular vote			Seats
		Total	%	Swing	Won	Before	After	%	+/−
	Nacionalista	17,319,389	67.6%	27.7%	8	14	21	87.5%	7
	Liberal	8,861,244	28.9%	7.1%	0	7	0	0.0%	7
	Federal	906,846	3.5%	3.5%	0	0	0	0.0%
	Democratic	0	0.0%	15.4%	0	2	2	8.3%
	Citizens'	0	0.0%	8.8%	0	1	1	4.2%
	Independent	6,811	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0	0.0%
Totals		25,629,034	100%	—	8	24	24	100.0%

Special election

For Garcia's vacated senate seat when he was elected vice president on 1953. Unlike the regular election, this is held under the first past the post system.

 Summary of the November 8, 1955 Senate special election result

Rank	Candidate	Party		Votes	%
1.	Roseller T. Lim		Nacionalista	1,102,979	61.4%
2.	Simeon Toribio		Liberal	688,913	38.4%
3.	Avelino P. Garcia		Independent	4,378	0.2%
Total valid votes				1,796,270	100.0%
Source: Commission on Elections

See also

• Commission on Elections
• 3rd Congress of the Philippines

References

1. Philippine Electoral Almanac. The Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office. 2013. p. 28. Archived from the original on 2014-04-09.
2. Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos, Jr. (2001). Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz and Christof Hartmann (ed.). Elections in Asia and the Pacific Vol. II. Oxford University Press. pp. 185–230. ISBN 0199249598.

External links

• Official website of the Commission on Elections