1970 Chilean presidential election

1970 Chilean presidential election

← 1964 4 September 1970 1989 →
 
Nominee Salvador Allende Jorge Alessandri Radomiro Tomic
Party Socialist Independent PDC
Alliance Popular Unity PNDR
Popular vote 1,070,334 1,031,159 821,801
Percentage 36.61% 35.27% 28.11%
Congress vote 153 35


President before election

Eduardo Frei Montalva
PDC

Elected President

Salvador Allende
Socialist

Original ballot

Presidential elections were held in Chile on 4 September 1970. Salvador Allende of the Popular Unity alliance won a narrow plurality in a race against independent Jorge Alessandri and Christian Democrat Radomiro Tomic, before having his victory confirmed by a contingent election after the Christian Democrats voted in favour of his candidacy.

Both the United States and the Soviet Union poured money into this election through their intelligence agencies and other sources, with the former attempting to sabotage Allende, and the latter supporting his campaign. Ambassador Edward Korry would play a major role in anti-Allende campaigns during the election.

Eduardo Frei Montalva and his Christian Democratic Party would later unite with Allende's opponents to form a congressional majority in an attempt to declare his presidency illegal in August 1973, catalyzing the military coup a few weeks later.