diff --git a/bigchaindb/upsert_validator/validator_election.py b/bigchaindb/upsert_validator/validator_election.py
index 9a319e2e..dd410ea3 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/upsert_validator/validator_election.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/upsert_validator/validator_election.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class ValidatorElection(Election):
 
         new_validator = self.asset['data']
 
-        public_key = public_key_to_base64(new_validator['public_key'])
+        public_key = public_key_to_base64(new_validator['public_key']['value'])
         power = new_validator['power']
         node_id = new_validator['node_id']
         status = self.get_status(bigchain)
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_commands.py b/tests/commands/test_commands.py
index 406a0f98..194f167a 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_commands.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_commands.py
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ def test_election_new_upsert_validator_with_tendermint(b, priv_validator_path, u
 
     new_args = Namespace(action='new',
                          election_type='upsert_validator',
-                         public_key='8eJ8q9ZQpReWyQT5aFCiwtZ5wDZC4eDnCen88p3tQ6ie',
+                         public_key='HHG0IQRybpT6nJMIWWFWhMczCLHt6xcm7eP52GnGuPY=',
                          power=1,
                          node_id='unique_node_id_for_test_upsert_validator_new_with_tendermint',
                          sk=priv_validator_path,