There was also a minor party candidate on the ballot, Alberto Salas Amaro for Partido Union Cubana, who received 1% of the vote.

[3] Anselmo Alliegro y Milá briefly became the next president on 1 January 1959, before being replaced by the Chief Justice Carlos Manuel Piedra the following day, who in turn was replaced by Manuel Urrutia Lleó a day later.

This was the last competitive election in Cuba; the 1940 constitution was abrogated and the Congress quickly dismantled shortly thereafter.

The rebels had publicly called for an election boycott, issuing its Total War Manifesto on 12 March 1958.

In a conversation between him and the American ambassador Earl E. T. Smith on 15 November 1958, he called Castro a "sick man" and stated it would be impossible to reach a settlement with him.