Although Santana once again holds the reins…

Although Santana once again holds the reins of power in the Dominican Republic, he declines to formalize the situation by running for office.

Instead, he renounces the temporary mandate granted him by the Congress and calls for an election— carried out under an electoral college system with limited suffrage—to select a new president.

Santana favors Santiago Espaillat, who wins a ballot in the Congress on July 5, 1849; Espaillat declines to accept the presidency, however, knowing that he will have to serve as a puppet so long as Santana controls the army.

This refusal clears the way for Baez, president of the Congress, to win a second ballot, which is held on August 18, 1849.