Prior to 1929, Brazilian politics was controlled by an alliance between the two largest state economies; known as "coffee with milk politics", coffee growers in São Paulo combined with the dairy industry centred in Minas Gerais to create an oligarchy, with the Presidency alternating between the two states. This practice was broken when the leaders of São Paulo and President Luís nominated their fellow "Paulista" Júlio Prestes as candidate for the presidential elections in 1930. In response, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and Paraíba formed a 'Liberal Alliance' backing opposition candidate, Getúlio Vargas.