At the time, the Progressista and Regenerator parties were sociological and psychological different entities, causing factionalist divisions in society.
In their 19 October 1879 electoral victory, new faces were added, including António Cândido (who would be responsible for defending their program Vida Nova), Emídio Navarro and Veiga Beirão would be elected.
In February 1885, the former socialist and nascent republican, Oliveira Martins, joins the party, declaring himself the inheritor of Passos.
Carlos Lobo d’Ávila, would later join the party after Antero Quental declares that the Fontist regime would not evolve beyond a bureaucratic and financial oligarchy.
During the 6 March 1887 would form a majority with 113 of 169 seats, a feat that they would repeat, albeit with a reduced plurality in the 20 October 1889 election (retaining 104 deputies).