An election took place within the Galactic Senate to determine who would serve as the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic in the standard year of 36 BBY. Finis Valorum, the current chancellor, narrowly secured a second term lasting four years. Many senators harbored reservations regarding Valorum's leadership around the time of this election. Consequently, various opposition groups started to consider potential replacements, with numerous suggestions pointing towards Senator Palpatine from the planet of Naboo—one of Valorum's long-standing allies—as a viable candidate.
As Valorum began his second term, he increasingly sought the advice of Palpatine, completely unaware of the senator's true intentions. In 32 BBY, Palpatine would later mastermind a Vote of No Confidence against Valorum, which resulted in his removal from power. Subsequently, Palpatine emerged as the victor in the following election. Valorum's victory in 36 BBY was later documented in a historical document created by the Galactic Federation Historical Council by 36 ABY.
The re-election of Finis Valorum to the position of Supreme Chancellor was initially referenced in The New Essential Guide to Characters, a sourcebook published in 2002 and authored by Daniel Wallace.