2010 American Samoan general election explained

Country:American Samoa
Previous Election:2008 American Samoan general election
Previous Year:2008
Next Election:2012 American Samoan general election
Next Year:2012
Election Date:November 2, 2010
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:U.S. House delegate
Type:Gubernatorial
Image1:Congressman_Eni_Faleomavaega.jpg
Candidate1:Eni Faleomavaega
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:6,182
Percentage1:56.41%
Candidate2:Amata Coleman Radewagen
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:4,422
Percentage2:40.35%
Delegate
Before Election:Eni Faleomavaega
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Eni Faleomavaega
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

General elections were held in American Samoa on November 2, 2010.[1] The deadline to register as a candidate for the election was September 1, 2010.[1]

Voters in American Samoa chose the 20 elected members of the American Samoa House of Representatives.[1] Voters also cast their ballots for the federal Delegate to the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., and proposed revisions to the American Samoan Constitution.[1]

Incumbent Eni Faleomavaega of the Democratic Party, who had held the seat since 1989, was re-elected as the U.S. House delegate.

Results

House of Representatives

Voters chose 20 elected members of the American Samoa House of Representatives.[1] Six incumbent representatives lost their re-election bids.[2]

Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives

All elections in American Samoa are officially non-partisan, though candidates do identify with a particular political party. Three candidates sought election for Delegate to the U.S. House in 2010.[3]

Incumbent Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, who identifies with the Democratic Party, is seeking re-election.[3] He was re-elected in the 2008 House election with 60% of the vote.

Amata Coleman Radewagen, American Samoa's Republican National Committeewoman who has challenged Faleomavaega in the past, ran again for the seat.

Tuika Tuika, an accountant and former candidate for Governor of American Samoa in the 2008 gubernatorial election, is the third candidate in the election.[3]

In early February 2010, independent Fualaau Rosie Tago Lancaster had announced that she would seek second bid to become American Samoa's delegate to the United States House.[3] [4] Lancaster announced that she will run on a platform promising an emphasis on Veterans issues, better communication and transportation links with the Manu'a Islands, education, healthcare and economic development.[4] Lancaster came in third in the 2008 House election, receiving 5% of the popular vote. However, she did not appear on the general election ballot in November.

Faleomavaega was elected for a twelfth two-year term in office, taking 6,895 ballots, or 56% of the vote.[5]

Referendum

See main article: 2010 American Samoan constitutional referendum. Voters decided if the amendments and revisions to the Constitution of American Samoa which were proposed at the 2010 Constitutional Convention should be adopted.[1] The government announced how many new amendments to the Constitution would be presented to the territory's voters.[1]

Voters strongly rejected the proposed amendments to the Constitution, with 7,660 (70.17%) voting against the changes to 3,257 (29.83%) who voted yes.[6] Voters rejected the amendments to the Constitution in all 17 electoral districts of American Samoa as well as in the absentee ballot poll.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: American Samoa’s Chief Election Officer announces general election date. . 24 August 2010 . 14 January 2021.
  2. Web site: American Samoans choose Faleomavaega to return to US Congress . RNZ . 4 November 2010 . 14 January 2021.
  3. News: Prospective lawmakers in American Samoa revealed. . 2010-09-03 . 2010-09-08.
  4. News: Lancaster to make second bid for American Samoa seat in DC . . 2010-01-09 . 2010-02-10.
  5. News: Fili . Sagapolutele . Faleomavaega wins unprecedented 12th consecutive term . . 2010-11-03 . 2010-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717135532/http://www.samoanews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=20398&edition=1288778400 . 2011-07-17 . dead .
  6. News: Voters strongly reject constitutional revisions . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717135520/http://www.samoanews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=20397&edition=1288778400 . dead . July 17, 2011 . Fili Sagapolutele . November 3, 2010 . . November 5, 2010 .