# Cantabria (Congress of Deputies constituency)

Cantabria—Santander until 1982—is one of the 52 constituencies (Spanish: circunscripciones) represented in the Congress of Deputies, the lower chamber of the Spanish parliament, the Cortes Generales. The constituency currently elects five deputies. Its boundaries correspond to those of the Spanish province of Cantabria. The electoral system uses the D'Hondt method and a closed-list proportional representation, with a minimum threshold of three percent.

## Electoral system

The constituency was created as per the Political Reform Act 1977 and was first contested in the 1977 general election. The Act provided for the provinces of Spain to be established as multi-member districts in the Congress of Deputies, with this regulation being maintained under the Spanish Constitution of 1978. Additionally, the Constitution requires for any modification of the provincial limits to be approved under an organic law, needing an absolute majority in the Cortes Generales.
Voting is on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprises all nationals over 18 years of age and in full enjoyment of their political rights. The only exception was in 1977, when this was limited to nationals over 21 years of age and in full enjoyment of their political and civil rights. Amendments to the electoral law in 2011 required for Spaniards abroad to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote (Spanish: Voto rogado), which was abolished in 2022. 348 seats are elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of three percent of valid votes—which includes blank ballots—being applied in each constituency. Each provincial constituency is entitled to an initial minimum of two seats, with the remaining 248 being distributed in proportion to their populations. Ceuta and Melilla are allocated the two remaining seats, which are elected using plurality voting. The use of the electoral method may result in an effective threshold based on the district magnitude and the distribution of votes among candidacies.
The electoral law allows for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election are required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election call—fifteen before 1985—whereas groupings of electors need to secure the signature of at least one percent of the electorate in the constituencies for which they seek election—one permille of the electorate, with a compulsory minimum of 500 signatures, until 1985—disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates. Also since 2011, parties, federations or coalitions that have not obtained a mandate in either chamber of the Cortes at the preceding election are required to secure the signature of at least 0.1 percent of electors in the aforementioned constituencies.

## Deputies

Deputies 1977–present :
| Key to parties  U.Podemos  Podemos  PSOE  PRC  Cs  UCD  PP  CP  AP  Vox |||
| Legislature | Election | Distribution |
| Constituent | 1977 | 1 3 1 |
| 1st | 1979 | 2 3 |
| 2nd | 1982 | 3 2 |
| 3rd | 1986 | 3 2 |
| 4th | 1989 | 3 2 |
| 5th | 1993 | 3 2 |
| 6th | 1996 | 2 3 |
| 7th | 2000 | 2 3 |
| 8th | 2004 | 2 3 |
| 9th | 2008 | 2 3 |
| 10th | 2011 | 1 4 |
| 11th | 2015 | 1 1 1 2 |
| 12th | 2016 | 1 1 1 2 |
| 13th | 2019 (Apr) | 2 1 1 1 |
| 14th | 2019 (Nov) | 1 1 2 1 |
| 15th | 2023 | 2 2 1 |

## Elections
### 2023 general election

Summary of the 23 July 2023 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 147,326 | 42.08 | +16.22 | 2 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 116,596 | 33.30 | +10.06 | 2 | +1 |
| | Vox (Vox) | 49,243 | 14.06 | –0.87 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Unite (Sumar)$^1$ | 29,713 | 8.49 | –0.19 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Animalist Party with the Environment (PACMA)$^2$ | 2,089 | 0.60 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Front (FO) | 790 | 0.23 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) | 598 | 0.17 | +0.09 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Zero Cuts (Recortes Cero) | 533 | 0.15 | +0.08 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) | n/a | n/a | –21.04 | 0 | –1 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 3,262 | 0.93 | +0.42 | | |
| Total | Total | 350,150 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 350,150 | 98.59 | –0.58 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 4,995 | 1.41 | +0.58 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 355,145 | 69.94 | +4.20 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 152,673 | 30.06 | –4.20 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 507,818 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Unite results are compared to United We Can totals in the November 2019 election.$^2$ Animalist Party with the Environment results are compared to Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals totals in the November 2019 election. |||||||

### November 2019 general election

Summary of the 10 November 2019 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 84,583 | 25.86 | +4.17 | 2 | +1 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 76,028 | 23.24 | –1.97 | 1 | –1 |
| | Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) | 68,830 | 21.04 | +6.49 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Vox (Vox) | 48,827 | 14.93 | +3.75 | 1 | +1 |
| | United We Can (Podemos–IU) | 28,376 | 8.68 | –1.56 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (Cs) | 15,609 | 4.77 | –10.37 | 0 | –1 |
| | Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 1,856 | 0.57 | –0.28 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 262 | 0.08 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Blank Seats (EB) | 259 | 0.08 | –0.04 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) | 247 | 0.08 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) | 232 | 0.07 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | For a Fairer World (PUM+J) | 187 | 0.06 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Libertarian Party (P–LIB) | 126 | 0.04 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 1,667 | 0.51 | –0.13 | | |
| Total | Total | 327,089 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 327,089 | 99.17 | +0.22 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 2,732 | 0.83 | –0.22 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 329,821 | 65.74 | –6.64 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 171,855 | 34.26 | +6.64 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 501,676 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||

### April 2019 general election

Summary of the 28 April 2019 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 90,534 | 25.21 | +1.69 | 2 | +1 |
| | People's Party (PP) | 77,902 | 21.69 | –19.86 | 1 | –1 |
| | Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (Cs) | 54,361 | 15.14 | +0.74 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) | 52,266 | 14.55 | New | 1 | +1 |
| | Vox (Vox) | 40,139 | 11.18 | +10.97 | 0 | ±0 |
| | United We Can (Podemos–IU–Equo) | 36,784 | 10.24 | –7.49 | 0 | –1 |
| | Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 3,049 | 0.85 | –0.15 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Blank Seats (EB) | 427 | 0.12 | –0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) | 332 | 0.09 | –0.05 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 286 | 0.08 | –0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | For a Fairer World (PUM+J) | 274 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Workers of Spain (PCTE) | 260 | 0.07 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Libertarian Party (P–LIB) | 187 | 0.05 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 2,303 | 0.64 | –0.09 | | |
| Total | Total | 359,104 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 359,104 | 98.95 | +0.06 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 3,806 | 1.05 | –0.06 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 362,910 | 72.38 | +3.86 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 138,501 | 27.62 | –3.86 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 501,411 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||

### 2016 general election

Summary of the 26 June 2016 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 140,252 | 41.55 | +4.64 | 2 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 79,407 | 23.52 | +1.11 | 1 | ±0 |
| | United We Can (Podemos–IU–Equo)$^1$ | 59,845 | 17.73 | –4.56 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) | 48,626 | 14.40 | –0.85 | 1 | ±0 |
| | Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 3,369 | 1.00 | +0.16 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 1,051 | 0.31 | –0.51 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Vox (Vox) | 713 | 0.21 | –0.05 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Blank Seats (EB) | 596 | 0.18 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) | 483 | 0.14 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 468 | 0.14 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) | 156 | 0.05 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Libertarian Party (P–LIB) | 147 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 2,454 | 0.73 | –0.08 | | |
| Total | Total | 337,567 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 337,567 | 98.89 | –0.01 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 3,781 | 1.11 | +0.01 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 341,348 | 68.52 | –2.45 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 156,855 | 31.48 | +2.45 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 498,203 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Unidos Podemos results are compared to the combined totals of Podemos and United Left–Popular Unity in Common in the 2015 election. |||||||

### 2015 general election

Summary of the 20 December 2015 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 129,216 | 36.91 | –15.26 | 2 | –2 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 78,460 | 22.41 | –2.82 | 1 | ±0 |
| | We Can (Podemos) | 62,569 | 17.87 | New | 1 | +1 |
| | Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) | 53,371 | 15.25 | New | 1 | +1 |
| | United Left–Popular Unity in Common (IU–UPeC) | 15,488 | 4.42 | +0.83 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 2,943 | 0.84 | +0.49 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 2,875 | 0.82 | –2.77 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Vox (Vox) | 901 | 0.26 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Zero Cuts–Green Group (Recortes Cero–GV) | 529 | 0.15 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 461 | 0.13 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 236 | 0.07 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) | 173 | 0.05 | –0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 2,849 | 0.81 | –0.37 | | |
| Total | Total | 350,071 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 350,071 | 98.90 | +0.04 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 3,904 | 1.10 | –0.04 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 353,975 | 70.97 | –0.59 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 144,796 | 29.03 | +0.59 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 498,771 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||

### 2011 general election

Summary of the 20 November 2011 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 183,244 | 52.17 | +2.18 | 4 | +1 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 88,624 | 25.23 | –18.38 | 1 | –1 |
| | Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) | 44,010 | 12.53 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 12,614 | 3.59 | +2.21 | 0 | ±0 |
| | United Left of Cantabria: Plural Left (IUC) | 12,608 | 3.59 | +1.32 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Equo (Equo) | 2,482 | 0.71 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 1,232 | 0.35 | +0.16 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 578 | 0.16 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Enough is Enough, Open Grouping of Political Parties (Basta Ya) | 380 | 0.11 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Anti-capitalists (Anticapitalistas) | 354 | 0.10 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republicans (RPS) | 277 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 275 | 0.08 | +0.03 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) | 269 | 0.08 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) | 145 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 4,157 | 1.18 | –0.05 | | |
| Total | Total | 351,249 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 351,249 | 98.86 | –0.35 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 4,040 | 1.14 | +0.35 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 355,289 | 71.56 | –4.82 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 141,194 | 28.44 | +4.82 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 496,483 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||

### 2008 general election

Summary of the 9 March 2008 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 184,853 | 49.99 | –1.91 | 3 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 161,279 | 43.61 | +2.74 | 2 | ±0 |
| | United Left (IU) | 8,395 | 2.27 | –1.04 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) | 5,094 | 1.38 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens of Europe (LVdE) | 1,060 | 0.29 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Anti-Bullfighting Party Against Mistreatment of Animals (PACMA) | 713 | 0.19 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 497 | 0.13 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Social Democratic Party (PSD) | 444 | 0.12 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Engine and Sports Alternative (AMD) | 394 | 0.11 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | For a Fairer World (PUM+J) | 353 | 0.10 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Alternative in Blank (ABLA) | 305 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) | 302 | 0.08 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB) | 297 | 0.08 | –0.28 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Citizens–Party of the Citizenry (C's) | 286 | 0.08 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Solidarity and Self-Management (SAIn) | 219 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 175 | 0.05 | –0.14 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Family and Life Party (PFyV) | 166 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Alternative (AES) | 157 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | National Democracy (DN) | 154 | 0.04 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Authentic Phalanx (FA) | 112 | 0.03 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 4,551 | 1.23 | –1.02 | | |
| Total | Total | 369,806 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 369,806 | 99.21 | +0.09 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 2,926 | 0.79 | –0.09 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 372,732 | 76.38 | –0.85 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 115,277 | 23.62 | +0.85 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 488,009 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||

### 2004 general election

Summary of the 14 March 2004 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 190,383 | 51.90 | –4.94 | 3 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 149,906 | 40.87 | +7.40 | 2 | ±0 |
| | United Left (IU) | 12,146 | 3.31 | –1.71 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Cantabrian Nationalist Council (CNC) | 1,431 | 0.39 | –0.24 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Citizens for Blank Votes (CenB) | 1,326 | 0.36 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 896 | 0.24 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 694 | 0.19 | +0.08 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Social Movement (MSR) | 500 | 0.14 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 431 | 0.12 | –0.04 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS)$^1$ | 209 | 0.06 | ±0.00 | 0 | ±0 |
| | National Democracy (DN) | 204 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Phalanx (FE) | 167 | 0.05 | –0.04 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Authentic Phalanx (FA) | 140 | 0.04 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Carlist Party (PC) | 126 | 0.03 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 8,267 | 2.25 | –0.37 | | |
| Total | Total | 366,826 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 366,826 | 99.12 | +0.08 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 3,244 | 0.88 | –0.08 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 370,070 | 77.23 | +5.42 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 109,119 | 22.77 | –5.42 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 479,189 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO results are compared to Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000 totals in the 2000 election. |||||||

### 2000 general election

Summary of the 12 March 2000 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 189,442 | 56.84 | +6.37 | 3 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party–Progressives (PSOE–p) | 111,556 | 33.47 | –2.14 | 2 | ±0 |
| | United Left (IU) | 16,714 | 5.02 | –6.34 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Cantabrian Nationalist Council (CNC) | 2,103 | 0.63 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Liberal Independent Group (GIL) | 1,343 | 0.40 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Centrist Union–Democratic and Social Centre (UC–CDS) | 743 | 0.22 | –0.18 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Natural Law Party (PLN) | 598 | 0.18 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 536 | 0.16 | –0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 353 | 0.11 | –0.06 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) | 328 | 0.10 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Phalanx (FE) | 293 | 0.09 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Independent Spanish Phalanx–Phalanx 2000 (FEI–FE 2000) | 194 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spain 2000 Platform (ES2000) | 183 | 0.05 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Democratic Party (PADE) | 156 | 0.05 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 8,726 | 2.62 | +1.02 | | |
| Total | Total | 333,268 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 333,268 | 99.04 | –0.25 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 3,240 | 0.96 | +0.25 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 336,508 | 71.81 | –7.50 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 132,099 | 28.19 | +7.50 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 468,607 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||

### 1996 general election

Summary of the 3 March 1996 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | People's Party (PP) | 175,651 | 50.47 | +13.44 | 3 | +1 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 123,940 | 35.61 | –1.56 | 2 | –1 |
| | United Left (IU) | 39,541 | 11.36 | +3.94 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Centrist Union (UC) | 1,408 | 0.40 | –1.14 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 640 | 0.18 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 608 | 0.17 | +0.10 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Revolutionary Party (PRT)$^1$ | 377 | 0.11 | –0.11 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Action (AR) | 257 | 0.07 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 5,578 | 1.60 | +0.31 | | |
| Total | Total | 348,000 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 348,000 | 99.29 | +0.10 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 2,477 | 0.71 | –0.10 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 350,477 | 79.31 | +0.33 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 91,457 | 20.69 | –0.33 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 441,934 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Workers' Revolutionary Party results are compared to Workers' Socialist Party totals in the 1993 election. |||||||

### 1993 general election

Summary of the 6 June 1993 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 122,418 | 37.17 | –2.90 | 3 | ±0 |
| | People's Party (PP) | 121,967 | 37.03 | –1.38 | 2 | ±0 |
| | Union for the Progress of Cantabria (UPCA) | 27,005 | 8.20 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | United Left (IU) | 24,453 | 7.42 | +1.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Regionalist Party of Cantabria (PRC) | 18,608 | 5.65 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 5,081 | 1.54 | –8.19 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens (LV) | 1,777 | 0.54 | –0.08 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Ecologists (LE) | 855 | 0.26 | –0.57 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Socialist Party (PST) | 729 | 0.22 | –0.36 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Ruiz-Mateos Group–European Democratic Alliance (ARM–ADE) | 557 | 0.17 | –0.57 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 537 | 0.16 | –0.22 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Nationalist Party of Cantabria (PNC) | 383 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 239 | 0.07 | –0.05 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Natural Law Party (PLN) | 184 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Democratic Republican Action (ARDE) | 152 | 0.05 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Coalition for a New Socialist Party (CNPS)$^1$ | 147 | 0.04 | –0.05 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) | 0 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 4,252 | 1.29 | +0.36 | | |
| Total | Total | 329,344 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 329,344 | 99.19 | +0.27 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 2,675 | 0.81 | –0.27 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 332,019 | 78.98 | +4.70 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 88,357 | 21.02 | –4.70 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 420,376 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Coalition for a New Socialist Party results are compared to Alliance for the Republic totals in the 1989 election. |||||||

### 1989 general election

Summary of the 29 October 1989 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 119,352 | 40.07 | –4.26 | 3 | ±0 |
| | People's Party (PP)$^1$ | 114,403 | 38.41 | +4.35 | 2 | ±0 |
| | Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 28,976 | 9.73 | –3.23 | 0 | ±0 |
| | United Left (IU) | 19,058 | 6.40 | +3.31 | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Ecologist Greens (LVE) | 2,481 | 0.83 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Ruiz-Mateos Group (Ruiz-Mateos) | 2,208 | 0.74 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | The Greens (LV) | 1,860 | 0.62 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Socialist Party (PST) | 1,727 | 0.58 | –0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Party of Spain–Communist Unity (PTE–UC)$^2$ | 1,291 | 0.43 | –0.83 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE) | 1,132 | 0.38 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Radicals for Cantabria (RxC) | 904 | 0.30 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) | 868 | 0.29 | –0.23 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Humanist Party (PH) | 347 | 0.12 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Alliance for the Republic (AxR)$^3$ | 256 | 0.09 | –0.18 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Asturianist Party (PAS) | 186 | 0.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 2,824 | 0.95 | +0.14 | | |
| Total | Total | 297,873 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 297,873 | 98.92 | +0.99 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 3,245 | 1.08 | –0.99 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 301,118 | 74.28 | +0.85 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 104,263 | 25.72 | –0.85 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 405,381 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ People's Party results are compared to People's Coalition totals in the 1986 election.$^2$ Workers' Party of Spain–Communist Unity results are compared to Communists' Unity Board totals in the 1986 election.$^3$ Alliance for the Republic results are compared to Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party totals in the 1986 election. |||||||

### 1986 general election

Summary of the 22 June 1986 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 129,041 | 44.33 | –0.67 | 3 | ±0 |
| | People's Coalition (AP–PDP–PL)$^1$ | 99,149 | 34.06 | –4.85 | 2 | ±0 |
| | Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 37,710 | 12.96 | +7.90 | 0 | ±0 |
| | United Left (IU)$^2$ | 8,997 | 3.09 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Democratic Reformist Party (PRD) | 3,866 | 1.33 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communists' Unity Board (MUC) | 3,664 | 1.26 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Socialist Party (PST) | 1,713 | 0.59 | +0.01 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) | 1,503 | 0.52 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Popular Unity (UPR) | 988 | 0.34 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) | 948 | 0.33 | +0.19 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Internationalist Socialist Workers' Party (POSI) | 783 | 0.27 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of the Communists of Catalonia (PCC) | 331 | 0.11 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 2,371 | 0.81 | +0.22 | | |
| Total | Total | 291,064 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 291,064 | 97.93 | +0.90 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 6,164 | 2.07 | –0.90 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 297,228 | 73.43 | –9.24 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 107,529 | 26.57 | +9.24 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 404,757 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ People's Coalition results are compared to People's Alliance–People's Democratic Party totals in the 1982 election.$^2$ United Left results are compared to Communist Party of Spain totals in the 1982 election. |||||||

### 1982 general election

Summary of the 28 October 1982 Congress of Deputies election results in Cantabria :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 135,987 | 45.00 | +14.72 | 3 | +1 |
| | People's Alliance–People's Democratic Party (AP–PDP)$^1$ | 117,567 | 38.91 | +28.61 | 2 | +2 |
| | Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) | 16,265 | 5.38 | –36.48 | 0 | –3 |
| | Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) | 15,281 | 5.06 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Party of Spain (PCE) | 9,265 | 3.07 | –3.54 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Socialist Party (PST) | 1,760 | 0.58 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | New Force (FN)$^2$ | 1,716 | 0.57 | –3.33 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Falangist Mountain Unity–Falangist Movement of Spain (UFM–MFE) | 827 | 0.27 | +0.02 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Solidarity (SE) | 642 | 0.21 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Unification of Spain (UCE) | 421 | 0.14 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Unity Candidacy (CUC) | 404 | 0.13 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist League–Internationalist Socialist Workers' Coalition (LC (COSI)) | 262 | 0.09 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Socialist Party (PS)$^3$ | 0 | 0.00 | –1.44 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Revolutionary Communist League (LCR) | 0 | 0.00 | –0.29 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (FE–JONS) | 0 | 0.00 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 1,768 | 0.59 | +0.14 | | |
| Total | Total | 302,165 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 302,165 | 97.03 | –0.95 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 9,250 | 2.97 | +0.95 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 311,415 | 82.67 | +12.22 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 65,297 | 17.33 | –12.22 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 376,712 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ People's Alliance–People's Democratic Party results are compared to Right Independent Group totals in the 1979 election.$^2$ New Force results are compared to National Union totals in the 1979 election.$^3$ Socialist Party results are compared to Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) totals in the 1979 election. |||||||

### 1979 general election

Summary of the 1 March 1979 Congress of Deputies election results in Santander :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) | 108,552 | 41.86 | +1.80 | 3 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)$^1$ | 78,512 | 30.28 | +1.21 | 2 | +1 |
| | Right Independent Group (AID)$^2$ | 26,707 | 10.30 | –3.97 | 0 | –1 |
| | Communist Party of Spain (PCE) | 17,140 | 6.61 | +1.16 | 0 | ±0 |
| | National Union (UN)$^3$ | 10,106 | 3.90 | +2.50 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Party of Labour of Spain (PTE)$^4$ | 4,014 | 1.55 | +0.91 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) (PSOEh) | 3,735 | 1.44 | –2.04 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Workers' Revolutionary Organization (ORT)$^5$ | 3,267 | 1.26 | +0.27 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (Authentic) (FE–JONS(A)) | 1,387 | 0.53 | –0.08 | 0 | ±0 |
| | Carlist Party (PC) | 1,013 | 0.39 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Movement–Organization of Communist Left (MC–OIC) | 872 | 0.34 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Communist Organization of Spain (Red Flag) (OCE–BR) | 772 | 0.30 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Revolutionary Communist League (LCR) | 752 | 0.29 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Spanish Phalanx–Falangist Unity (FE–UF) | 660 | 0.25 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| | Republican Left (IR) | 643 | 0.25 | New | 0 | ±0 |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 1,175 | 0.45 | +0.30 | | |
| Total | Total | 259,307 | | | 5 | ±0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 259,307 | 97.98 | +0.86 | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 5,351 | 2.02 | –0.86 | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 264,658 | 70.45 | –10.28 | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 111,008 | 29.55 | +10.28 | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 375,666 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||
| Footnotes: $^1$ Spanish Socialist Workers' Party results are compared to the combined totals of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and People's Socialist Party–Socialist Unity in the 1977 election.$^2$ Right Independent Group results are compared to People's Alliance totals in the 1977 election.$^3$ National Union results are compared to National Alliance July 18 totals in the 1977 election.$^4$ Party of Labour of Spain results are compared to Democratic Left Front totals in the 1977 election.$^5$ Workers' Revolutionary Organization results are compared to Workers' Electoral Group totals in the 1977 election. |||||||

### 1977 general election

Summary of the 15 June 1977 Congress of Deputies election results in Santander :
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote | Seats | Seats |
| Parties and alliances | Parties and alliances | Votes | % | ±pp | Total | +/− |
| | Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) | 102,719 | 40.06 | n/a | 3 | n/a |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) | 67,611 | 26.37 | n/a | 1 | n/a |
| | People's Alliance (AP) | 36,598 | 14.27 | n/a | 1 | n/a |
| | Communist Party of Spain (PCE) | 13,971 | 5.45 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| | Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (historical) (PSOEh) | 8,914 | 3.48 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| | People's Socialist Party–Socialist Unity (PSP–US) | 6,923 | 2.70 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| | Federation of Christian Democracy (FPD–ID) | 5,930 | 2.31 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| | Spanish Democratic Socialist Party (PSDE) | 3,786 | 1.48 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| | National Alliance July 18 (AN18) | 3,582 | 1.40 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| | Workers' Electoral Group (AET) | 2,551 | 0.99 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| | Spanish Phalanx of the CNSO (Authentic) (FE–JONS(A)) | 1,797 | 0.70 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| | Democratic Left Front (FDI) | 1,633 | 0.64 | n/a | 0 | n/a |
| Blank ballots | Blank ballots | 391 | 0.15 | n/a | | |
| Total | Total | 256,406 | | | 5 | n/a |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 256,406 | 97.12 | n/a | | |
| Invalid votes | Invalid votes | 7,591 | 2.88 | n/a | | |
| Votes cast / turnout | Votes cast / turnout | 263,997 | 80.73 | n/a | | |
| Abstentions | Abstentions | 63,011 | 19.27 | n/a | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | 327,008 | | | | |
| Sources |||||||