Republic (ARI), Democratic Progressive Party, Communist Party and Peronist dissident) in the parliamentary elections of October 23, 2005. He won the seat, together with another six candidates of the Progressive Front, by a 10% margin over the list of candidates led by his closest competitor, the Justicialist Party candidate Agustín Rossi. Governor of Santa Fe Binner ran for governor of Santa Fe in 2007, together with former Santa Fe City federal prosecutor Griselda Tessio as vice-governor, against former chancellor and national deputy for Buenos Aires City Rafael Bielsa (chosen in primaries by the Justicialist Front for Victory). He was supported by the left-wing opposition leader Elisa Carrió, head of the ARI. Binner won the provincial election of September 2, 2007, by a significant margin (by 48% to 38%) over Bielsa. He was sworn in on December 11, becoming the first Socialist governor in the history of Argentina, and the first non-Justicialist to rule Santa Fe since 1983. Despite his opposition to the Peronist candidate, who was strongly supported by then-President Néstor Kirchner, Governor Binner maintained a fluid relationship with Kirchner and his wife and successor, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Binner joined UCR Congressman Ricardo Alfonsín in the Civic and Social Agreement during the early stages of the 2011 general election campaign. Their alliance ended in May, however, and on June 11, Binner formally announced his candidacy for President of Argentina. He nominated Córdoba Province Senator Norma Morandini as his running mate on their Progressive Front ticket. Antonio Bonfatti, the Minister of Government and State Reform during Binner's tenure and a longtime friend and ally from their Medical School days, was elected to succeed Binner as Governor of Santa Fe in elections on July 24. 2011 presidential campaign On June 11, 2011, the Socialist Congress voted for the candidature for presidential elections: Hermes Binner - Norma Morandini. That candidature was in representation of the Broad Progressive Front, a grouping launched in Buenos Aires in June 2011. In this new alliance participated the Socialist Party, with other parts of the so called "democratic left": New Party, Generation for a National Encounter, Freemen of the South Movement and Buenos Aires for Everyone. On August 14, 2011, in the primary elections for the presidency he came fourth with 11% of the votes. On October 23, 2011, in the general elections for the presidency he came second with 17% of the votes, behind Cristina