See also: 2022 United States gubernatorial elections
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 Results by voting district: Arnold Palacios: 50–55% 60–65% 65–70% Ralph Torres: 50–55% 65–70% 70–75% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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. Lieutenant Governor Arnold Palacios, a career Republican, also contested the seat, running as an independent with Saipan mayor David Apatang as his running mate. 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.
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. 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.
Palacios and Apatang won the runoff election with 54.14% of the vote to 45.86% for Torres and Sablan. 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. 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. His trial was set for July 5, 2022, but was delayed several times and will not take place until after the November election. Manibusan was reelected in the 2022 election.
Candidates
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Republican Party
Declared
- Ralph Torres, incumbent governor
- Running mate: Vinnie Sablan, floor leader of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
Declined
- Arnold Palacios, Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (running as an independent)
Democratic Party
Declared
- Tina Sablan, territorial representative (endorsed by party)
- Running mate: Leila Staffler, territorial representative
Declined
- Edith Deleon Guerrero, territorial senator
Independents
On October 22, 2021, Palacios and Apatang announced they were leaving the Republican Party and would run as an independent ticket.
Declared
- Arnold Palacios, Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Running mate: David Apatang, mayor of Saipan and former territorial representative
Declined
- Gregorio Sablan, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives (running for re-election, endorsed Tina Sablan)
Endorsements
Tina Sablan (D)Politicians
- Gregorio Sablan, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives (2009–present)
Organizations
Arnold Palacios (I)Territory-wide officials
- Juan Babauta, former governor (2002–2006)
- Benigno Fitial, former governor (2006–2013) (Covenant/Republican)
Territorial legislators
- Blas Jonathan Attao, vice speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (Republican)
- Jesus Attao, former territorial representative
- Oscar Babauta, former speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
- Roman Benavente, former territorial representative
- Pedro Deleon Guerrero, former speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
- Janet Maratita, former territorial representative
- Clyde Norita, former territorial representative
- John Reyes, former territorial representative
- John Paul Sablan, territorial representative (Republican)
- John Tenorio, former territorial senator
- Ralph N. Yumul, floor leader of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (Republican)
Commonwealth Ports Authority board members
- Pete P. Reyes
- Thomas Villagomez
Local politicians
- Marianne Tudela, former mayor of Saipan
Results
| Party | Candidate | Running mate | First round | Second round | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||||
| Independent | Arnold Indalecio Palacios | David Mundo Apatang | 4,890 | 33.15% | 7,394 | 54.14% | |
| Republican | Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (incumbent) | Vinson Flores "Vinnie" Sablan | 5,728 | 38.83% | 6,263 | 45.86% | |
| Democratic | Christina Marie Elise Sablan (Tina Sablan) | Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler | 4,132 | 28.01% | |||
| Total | 14,750 | 100% | 13,657 | 100% | |||
| Independent gain from Republican | |||||||
Notes
- In 2014, Bill Walker was elected Governor of Alaska and Kenneth Mapp was elected Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
References
- De Guzman, Andrew (2009-07-29). "Fitial approves runoff law". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
- ^ Limol, K-Andrea Evarose (August 16, 2021). "Ralph & Vinnie in 2022". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (2021-10-22). "Palacios, Apatang vow to rebuild trust in government". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
- Manglona, Thomas (2021-11-15). "Tina Sablan says it's time for change in the CNMI". KUAM News. Dededo, Guam. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
- ^ "2022 General Election Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
- De La Torre, Ferdie (2022-11-09). "Torres-Sablan wins; to face Palacios-Apatang in runoff". Saipan Tribune. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
- De La Torre, Ferdie (2022-11-11). "BREAKING NEWS: Runoff election on Nov. 25". Saipan Tribune. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
- Sablan, Tina (2022-11-10). "Opinion: The Movement for Good Governance Must Continue". Saipan Tribune. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
- Manglona, Thomas (2022-11-16). "CNMI independents & democrats sign Unity Pledge". KUAM News. Dededo, Guam. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- "Palacios-Apatang wins gubernatorial runoff".
- Heaton, Thomas (2021-12-16). "Impeachment Charges Filed Against CNMI Governor". Civil Beat. Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- Limtiaco, Steve (2022-01-12). "CNMI House of Representatives votes to impeach Torres". Pacific Daily News. Hagåtña, Guam. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- Limtiaco, Steve (2022-05-18). "CNMI Gov. Ralph Torres acquitted of all impeachment articles". Pacific Daily News. Hagåtña, Guam. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- Manabat, Bryan (2022-06-13). "AG's office says it will provide evidence against governor". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- Bautista Esmores, Kimberly (2022-09-27). "Criminal court case vs Torres to resume after '22 elections". Saipan Tribune. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (2021-12-01). "CNMI Dems endorse Sablan for governor". The Guam Daily Post. Tamuning, Guam. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (2021-11-04). "NMI Democrats: Tina Sablan for governor". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
- De La Torre, Ferdie (January 21, 2022). "Staffler is Tina's running mate". Saipan Tribune. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- Torres, Troy (2021-10-24). "Edith: The pioneer of the opposition". KANDIT News Group. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- Erediano, Emmanuel T. "CNMI Dems urge Sablan to run for governor". The Guam Daily Post. Tamuning, Guam. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- Limol, K-Andrea Evarose (2021-09-29). "Kilili says he may run for governor". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- Erediano, Emmanuel T. (September 21, 2022). "Former governors Babauta, Fitial remind NMI Republicans of 'core values'". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- "2022 Official General Election and Run-Off Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
