2022 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election explained

See also: 2022 United States gubernatorial elections.

Election Name:2022 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election
Country:Northern Mariana Islands
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2018 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2026 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election
Next Year:2026
Election Date:November 8, 2022 (first round)
November 25, 2022 (runoff)
Nominee1:Arnold Palacios
Party1:Independent
Running Mate1:David Apatang
Popular Vote1:7,394
Percentage1:54.14%
Party2:Republican Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
Popular Vote2:6,263
Percentage2:45.86%
Map Size:200px
Governor
Before Election:Ralph Torres
Before Party:Republican Party (Northern Mariana Islands)
After Election:Arnold Palacios
After Party:Independent

The 2022 Northern Mariana gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands and the lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands to a four-year term in office. Because no candidate received 50% of the vote in the general election, the two highest-placing candidates advanced to a runoff election on November 25, 2022.[1]

Incumbent Republican Governor Ralph Torres ran for re-election to a second full term in office with territorial senator Vinnie Sablan as his running mate.[2] Lieutenant Governor Arnold Palacios, a career Republican, also contested the seat, running as an independent with Saipan mayor David Apatang as his running mate.[3] Democratic nominee Tina Sablan, a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, is the first woman to be nominated for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. She chose fellow territorial representative Leila Staffler as her running mate.[4]

In the general election, Torres came in first with 38.83% of the vote, followed by Palacios at 33.15% and Sablan at 28.01%. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff between Torres and Palacios was held on November 25, 2022.[5] [6] [7] Sablan and Staffler endorsed Palacios in the runoff, and Palacios and Apatang signed a "unity pledge" with them promising action on several policy issues, including health care, labor, and infrastructure.[8] [9]

Palacios and Apatang won the runoff election with 54.14% of the vote to 45.86% for Torres and Sablan.[10] Palacios was the first independent elected governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the first independent to win a gubernatorial election in any U.S. state or territory since 2014.

Background

Torres has been under investigation for misusing public funds since 2019. On January 12, 2022, the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives voted to impeach Torres on charges of theft and corruption. A two-thirds majority vote in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate was required to remove the governor from office.[11] [12] The Senate acquitted Torres on May 18 in a 3–4 party-line vote with two senators absent. However, Torres still faced criminal charges brought against him by Attorney General Edward Manibusan.[13] His trial was set for July 5, 2022,[14] but was delayed several times and will not take place until after the November election.[15] Manibusan was reelected in the 2022 election.[5]

Candidates

Republican Party

Declared

Declined

Democratic Party

Declared

Declined

Independents

On October 22, 2021, Palacios and Apatang announced they were leaving the Republican Party and would run as an independent ticket.

Declared

Declined

Results

|- style="background:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;"! colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" | Party ! rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" | Candidate! rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" | Running mate! colspan="2" | First round! colspan="2" | Second round |- style="background:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;"! width="60" | Votes! width="30" | %! width="65" | Votes! width="30" | % |- | style="background: #D6D6D6" | | style="text-align:left;" | Independent | style="text-align:left;" | Arnold Indalecio Palacios | style="text-align:left;" | David Mundo Apatang | | % | | % |- | style="background:" | | style="text-align:left;" | Republican | style="text-align:left;" | Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (incumbent) | style="text-align:left;" | Vinson Flores "Vinnie" Sablan | | % | | % |- | style="background:" | | style="text-align:left;" | Democratic | style="text-align:left;" | Christina Marie Elise Sablan (Tina Sablan) | style="text-align:left;" | Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler | | % |-! colspan="4" style="text-align:left;" | Total! ! 100%! ! 100% |-

Notes and References

  1. News: Andrew. De Guzman. Fitial approves runoff law . . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2009-07-29 . 2009-07-31.
  2. News: Limol . K-Andrea Evarose . August 16, 2021 . Ralph & Vinnie in 2022 . Marianas Variety News & Views . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . August 17, 2021.
  3. News: Erediano . Emmanuel T. . 2021-10-22 . Palacios, Apatang vow to rebuild trust in government . en . Marianas Variety News & Views . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2021-11-28.
  4. News: Manglona . Thomas . 2021-11-15 . Tina Sablan says it's time for change in the CNMI . en . KUAM News . Dededo, Guam . 2021-12-01.
  5. Web site: 2022-11-11 . 2022 General Election Results . Commonwealth Election Commission . en-us . 2022-11-12.
  6. News: De La Torre . Ferdie . 2022-11-09 . Torres-Sablan wins; to face Palacios-Apatang in runoff . en-US . Saipan Tribune . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2022-11-11.
  7. News: De La Torre . Ferdie . 2022-11-11 . BREAKING NEWS: Runoff election on Nov. 25 . en-US . Saipan Tribune . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2022-11-11.
  8. News: Sablan . Tina . 2022-11-10 . Opinion: The Movement for Good Governance Must Continue . en-US . Saipan Tribune . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2022-11-11.
  9. News: Manglona . Thomas . 2022-11-16 . CNMI independents & democrats sign Unity Pledge . en . KUAM News . Dededo, Guam . 2022-11-16.
  10. News: Palacios-Apatang wins gubernatorial runoff.
  11. Web site: Heaton . Thomas . 2021-12-16 . Impeachment Charges Filed Against CNMI Governor . 2022-11-16 . Civil Beat . Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
  12. News: Limtiaco . Steve . 2022-01-12 . CNMI House of Representatives votes to impeach Torres . en . Pacific Daily News . Hagåtña, Guam . 2022-11-16.
  13. News: Limtiaco . Steve . 2022-05-18 . CNMI Gov. Ralph Torres acquitted of all impeachment articles . en . Pacific Daily News . Hagåtña, Guam . 2022-11-16.
  14. News: Manabat . Bryan . 2022-06-13 . AG's office says it will provide evidence against governor . Marianas Variety News & Views . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2022-11-16.
  15. News: Bautista Esmores . Kimberly . 2022-09-27 . Criminal court case vs Torres to resume after '22 elections . Saipan Tribune . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2022-11-16.
  16. News: Erediano . Emmanuel T. . 2021-11-04 . NMI Democrats: Tina Sablan for governor . en . Marianas Variety News & Views . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2021-11-28.
  17. News: De La Torre . Ferdie . January 21, 2022 . Staffler is Tina's running mate . Saipan Tribune . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . January 23, 2022.
  18. Web site: Torres . Troy . 2021-10-24 . Edith: The pioneer of the opposition . KANDIT News Group . en-US . 2022-11-16.
  19. News: CNMI Dems urge Sablan to run for governor. Emmanuel T. . Erediano . The Guam Daily Post . Tamuning, Guam . 2022-11-16.
  20. News: Limol . K-Andrea Evarose . 2021-09-29 . Kilili says he may run for governor . Marianas Variety News & Views . Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands . 2022-11-16.
  21. News: Erediano . Emmanuel T. . 2021-12-01 . CNMI Dems endorse Sablan for governor . The Guam Daily Post . Tamuning, Guam . 2022-11-16.