Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's Socialist government won a majority of votes in local elections on Sunday, dealing a major disappointment to the opposition and helping his quest to continue the late Hugo Chavez's Bolivarian legacy.

With three-quarters of the nation's 337 mayoral races reporting, Maduro’s ruling party and allies had combined 49.2 percent support, according to the election board.  The opposition coalition and its partners got 42.7 percent. 

President Maduro reveled in the victory, urging the opposition leader to step down and to “learn humility”.

Maduro’s forces foresaw trouble coming several weeks ago, and they took aggressive steps to rally the base.  Last month, Maduro ordered retailers to slash prices on electronics and durable goods for the home, and backed it up with troop support.  Low income Venezuelans loved it and leapt upon the deals to re-outfit their homes. 

On Sunday morning, Socialist party buglers sounded the call in the streets of shantytowns to wake people up and get them to the polls. 

“The father of the revolution has gone, but he left the son who continued helping the poor,” said 62-year old government supporter and pensioner Freddy Navarro in Caracas.

Sunday’s elections were a big test for Maduro, eight months after being elected to replace Hugo Chavez, whose 14 years in power ended with his death from cancer earlier this year.  He faced a constant barrage of criticism from opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who claimed to lead a true majority.  Capriles said the municipal elections would be a referendum on Maduro’s performance – They were, but Capriles didn’t get the answer he wanted.