1902 Costa Rican general election

General elections were held in Costa Rica on 16 February 1902. The elections took place in a context of heightened political tension. President Rafael Yglesias's administration, which had been marked by authoritarian tendencies, faced increasing opposition after his controversial re-election in 1897. That earlier victory had been secured through a constitutional reform widely considered undemocratic, as Yglesias ran unopposed and maintained full control of Congress.

The liberal Republican Party, which had boycotted the 1897 election in protest, emerged as the main opposition force. By the early 1900s, political polarization in the country had deepened, and the possibility of civil conflict loomed. However, a negotiated settlement was reached between Yglesias and the moderate wing of the Republican Party, resulting in a political agreement known as La Transacción ("the Transaction"). This pact allowed for a peaceful transition of power and set the stage for a more competitive and inclusive electoral process in 1902.

The election was contested by two candidates. Ascensión Esquivel Ibarra, representing the newly established National Union Party, was nominated with the backing of President Rafael Yglesias. The party itself was formed as an electoral alliance between the ruling Civil Party and a moderate faction of the Republican Party, as part of the political compromise. Opposing him was Máximo Fernández Alvarado, who ran under the banner of the "Republican Club", representing a more independent and uncompromising Republican position that did not align with the leadership involved in the agreement.

Both candidates identified with liberal political ideologies, the dominant ideological consensus of the period. Esquivel won the election by a landslide, consolidating the negotiated transition of power.