1977 American Samoan gubernatorial election

1977 American Samoan gubernatorial election

8 November 1977 1980 →

Candidate Peter Tali Coleman A. P. Lutali Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 3,326 2,627 Percentage 55.87% 44.13%

Elected Governor Peter Tali Coleman Republican

Gubernatorial elections were held in American Samoa on 8 November 1977, with a run-off between the top two candidates on 22 November. Peter Tali Coleman was elected with 56% of the vote in the second round. ^[1]

This election was the first gubernatorial election ever to be held in American Sāmoa. It featured multiple two-person tickets for governor and lieutenant governor. The leading slates were Peter Coleman–Tufele Liʻamatua; A. P. Lutali–Fofo I. F. Sunia; and A. U. Fuimaono–Lutu Tenari. Because victory required an absolute majority, Coleman’s first-round plurality (40.2%) triggered a runoff, which he won. He assumed office on January 3, 1978, as the territory’s first elected governor. ^[2]

Candidates

Former appointed governor Peter Tali Coleman ran with Tufele Liamatua as his running mate for lieutenant governor. The territory's delegate at-large A. P. Lutali ran with Fofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia, a Senator. Former delegate at-large A. U. Fuimaono ran alongside Senator Lutu T. S. Fuimaono. ^[3]

Results

Candidate	First round		Second round
	Votes	%	Votes	%
Peter Tali Coleman	2,358	40.26	3,326	55.87
A. P. Lutali	1,270	21.68	2,627	44.13
A. U. Fuimaono	955	16.31
Galeai Poumele	833	14.22
Leiato Tuli	387	6.61
Luis Lagarejos	54	0.92
Total	5,857	100.00	5,953	100.00
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

References

1. Coleman Wins Election Highlights, 1 December 1977, p4
2. Shaffer, Robert J. (2000). American Samoa: 100 Years Under the United States Flag. Island Heritage. Page 194. ISBN 9780896103399.
3. The line-up for top job in American Samoa Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1977, p10