Juan Cailles, a Progresista Party stalwart, was to retire as governor of La Laguna. In the immediately preceding gubernatorial election, the Nacionalista Party's Domingo Ordoveza won, but Governor-General William Cameron Forbes, upon the advice of vice governor Newton W. Gilbert, was convinced that Ordoveza bought votes and refused to seat him nor Cailles, and will appoint someone from the Nacionalista Party instead.[1] On September 22, 1910, Forbes appointed Potenciano Malvar, the younger brother of Miguel Malvar and incumbent delegate from La Laguna's 1st district, as governor, succeeding Cailles.[2]La Democracia newspaper had opposed Malvar's appointment, pointing out that he was ineligible for the post as a sitting member of the Philippine Assembly.[3]La Democracia is the official organ of the Progresistas.[4] A day later, the Philippine Commission approved the appointment of Malvar as provincial governor.[5] On October 4, Forbes scheduled the special election for the vacant assembly seat on December 13.[6]