2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election

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2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg
5 November 2005
Gubernatorial election
  2001
2009  
  Benigno Fitial 2009.jpg 3x4.svg
Candidate Benigno Fitial Heinz Hofschneider
Party Covenant Independent
Running mate Timothy Villagomez David M. Apatang
Popular vote3,7663,682
Percentage27.95%27.33%

  FEMA - 7324 - Photograph by Andrea Booher taken on 12-20-2002 in Northern Mariana Islands (cropped).jpg Froilan 1.jpg
Candidate Juan Babauta Froilan Tenorio
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Diego Benavente Antonio Aguon Santos
Popular vote3,5842,440
Percentage26.60%18.11%

Governor before election

Juan Babauta
Republican

Elected Governor

Benigno Fitial
Covenant

Senate election
  2003
2007  

6 of the 9 seats in the Senate
5 seats needed for a majority
PartySeats
Covenant 3
Republican 3
Democratic 2
Independents 1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
House election
  2003
2007  

All 18 seats in the House of Representatives
10 seats needed for a majority
PartySeats
Covenant 7
Republican 7
Democratic 2
Independents 2
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Mayoral elections
  2001
2009  

3 Mayors
PartySeats
Covenant 3
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The 2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election was held on Saturday, 5 November 2005. Voters in the Northern Mariana Islands voted for the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, the non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives, attorney general, 6 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, all eighteen seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 3 mayors, seats for the municipal council, seats for the board of education, 2 justices, and a judges. There was also a referendum on calling a Constitutional Convention, [1] which was approved by voters. [2]

Contents

The gubernatorial election was the closest in the commonwealth's history, and resulted in the election of Benigno Fitial, narrowly defeating independent Heinz Hofschneider by 84 votes and incumbent Republican Governor Juan N. Babauta by an additional 98 votes. This would be the last year that the gubernatorial race would work in a first-past-the-post voting system as it would be reformed to work under a two-round system for the 2009 general elections. [3] This election made commonwealth history by electing both the territory's first Carolinian governor and its first third party governor. [4]

Background

The referendum on the Constitutional Convention was called in order to comply with Chapter XVIII, article 2 of the constitution, which required a referendum to be held at least every ten years on convening such a convention. [2] A referendum had been due in 2003 as the last referendum had been in 1993, but the legislature had failed to organise it. [2]

15,118 people registered with the Election Commission to vote. [5]

Gubernatorial election

Candidates

Four candidates ran for governor, each with a running mate:

Covenant Party

Democratic Party

  • Froilan Cruz "Lang" Tenorio of the Democratic Party, former Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (1994–1998). [6]
    • Antonio Aguon Santos, educator and teacher. [6]

Independent

Republican Party

Results

Northern Mariana Islands Gubernatorial Election [7]
PartyCandidateRunning mateResults
Votes %
Covenant Benigno Repeki Fitial Timothy Pangelinan Villagomez 3,76627.95%
Independent Heinz Sablan Hofschneider David Mundo Apatang 3,682 27.33%
Republican Juan Nekai Babauta (incumbent) Diego Tenorio Benavente (incumbent) 3,584 26.60%
Democratic Froilan Cruz "Lang" Tenorio Antonio Aguon Santos 2,440 18.11%
Total13,472100%
Covenant gain from Republican

Resident Representative to U.S. Congress

This was the last election to have Resident Representative to U.S. Congress. In 2008, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, signed into law by President George W. Bush, replaced the position of resident representative with a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives. The new position received the power to serve in congressional committees, to introduce bills, and to vote on proposed legislation in committee, but still had limited powers on the House floor, lacking the right to vote on legislation on the House floor.

CNMI Resident Representative to U.S. Congress [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Pedro Agulto Tenorio 8,308 64.63%
Covenant Juan Sablan Demapan4,54735.37%
Total votes12,855 100.00%
Republican hold

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature

Results summary

CNMI House of Representatives 2005.svg
PartiesHouse Election ResultsSeat ChangeParty Strength
2003 2005+/−Strength
  Republican 7 7 Steady2.svg38.89%
  Covenant 9 7 2 Decrease2.svg38.89%
  Independent 1 2 1 Increase2.svg11.11%
  Democratic 1 2 1 Increase2.svg11.11%
Totals1818Steady2.svg100.00%
CNMI Senate 2005.svg
PartiesSenate Election ResultsSeat ChangeParty Strength
2003 2005+/−Strength
  Covenant 3 3 Steady2.svg33.33%
  Republican 2 3 1 Increase2.svg33.33%
  Democratic 2 2 Steady2.svg22.22%
  Independent 2 1 1 Decrease2.svg11.11%
Totals99Steady2.svg100.00%

Senate

The Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature, consisting of nine senators representing three senatorial districts (Saipan & the Northern Islands, Tinian & Aguijan, and Rota), each a Multi-member district with three senators. Six seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate were up for the 2005 election.

Rota 1st Senatorial District (2 seats) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Covenant Felix Taisacan Mendiola 634 23.62%
Republican Paterno Songao Hocog 605 22.54%
Covenant Jovita Maratita Taimanao59922.32%
Republican Diego Maratita Songao55020.49%
Democratic Eusebio Atalig Hocog2017.49%
Independent Nobert Hocog Mendiola953.54%
Total votes2,684 100.00%
Tinian 2nd Senatorial District (2 seats) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Covenant Joseph Masga Mendiola 583 26.77%
Republican Jude Untalan Hofschneider 550 25.25%
Republican Ramon Muna Dela Cruz53324.47%
Covenant Joaquin Hoashi Borja51223.51%
Total votes2,178 100.00%
Saipan & Northern Islands 3rd Senatorial District (2 seats) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Maria Frica Tudela Pangelinan 4,894 24.43%
Independent Pete Pangelinan Reyes 4,378 21.85%
Covenant Claudio Kotomar Norita4,27021.31%
Republican Thomas Pangelinan Villagomez2,80514.00%
Republican Andrew Sablan Salas2,71713.56%
Democratic Joaquin Terlaje Quitugua9704.84%
Total votes20,034 100.00%

House of Representatives

The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The house has six districts, several of which are Multi-member districts. [8] All 18 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives were contested in the 2005 election. This was the last election to have 18 members.

House of Representative - District 1: Saipan (6 seats) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero 2,357 8.63%
Republican Benjamin Benavente Seman 2,233 8.17%
Republican Manuel Agulto Tenorio 2,064 7.55%
Republican Martin Borja Ada 2,209 8.08%
Democratic Florencio Bobby Pan Tenorio Deleon Guerrero 1,979 7.24%
Covenant Jacinta Matagolai Kaipat 1,891 6.92%
Republican Edward Tudela Salas1,8406.74%
Republican Janet Ulloa Maratita 1,7876.54%
Democratic Ramon Sablan Basa1,6636.08%
Democratic Antonio Muna Camacho1,5645.72%
Covenant Jesus Camacho Muna1,3344.88%
Covenant Rose Nelly Taman Ada-Hocog1,3304.87%
Covenant Juan Cepeda Deleon Guerrero1,3184.83%
Covenant Herman Pangelinan Sablan1,0053.68%
Independent Joseph Cepeda Reyes9663.54%
Independent Pedro Cabrera Sablan9323.41%
Democratic Nicolas Pangelinan Blas8503.11%
Total votes27,322 100.00%
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Covenant Oscar Manglona Babauta 600 41.50%
Covenant Jesus San Nicolas Lizama 463 32.05%
Republican Eric Benavente Atalig38226.45%
Total votes1,445 100.00%
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan & Northern Islands (6 seats) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Arnold Indalecio Palacios 1,372 10.42%
Independent Ray Naraja Yumul 1,184 8.99%
Republican Ramon Angailen Tebuteb 1,154 8.77%
Covenant Francisco Santos Dela Cruz 1,118 8.49%
Independent Stanley Estanislao Tudela McGinnis Torres 1,013 7.70%
Covenant Absalon Victor, Jr. Waki 999 7.59%
Covenant Melvin Larence Odoshi Faisao9647.32%
Covenant Henry Kaipat Rabauliman9417.14%
Covenant Howard Iglecias Macaranas9176.96%
Republican Francisco Iwashita Aquino7525.71%
Republican David Castro Sablan7295.54%
Republican Carmen Cruz Cabrera7105.39%
Democratic Remedio Laniyo Seman6715.10%
Democratic Jesus Sablan Barcinas3572.71%
Total votes13,161 100.00%
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan (2 seats) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Justo Songao Quitugua 1,409 40.90%
Republican Candido Babauta Taman 836 24.27%
Covenant Gonzalo Quitugua Santos62518.14%
Republican Enrique Tamaoki Dela Cruz57416.69%
Total votes3,444 100.00%
House of Representative - District 5: Tinian (1 seat) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Covenant Edwin Palacios Aldan 555 52.21%
Republican Norman Sablan Palacios50847.79%
Total votes1,063 100.00%
House of Representative - District 6: Rota (1 seat) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Covenant Crispin Mangloña Ogo 833 61.10%
Republican Juan Mangloña Ayuyu53038.90%
Total votes1,363 100.00%

Mayors

Three mayoral posts were up for election across the Commonwealth. The elections resulted in the Covenant Party taking all the available positions.

Mayor - Saipan [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Covenant Juan Borja Tudela 3,786 35.75%
Independent Frank Guerrero Cepeda2,07519.59%
Republican James Aldan Ada2,04919.35%
Independent Victorino Sablan Cepeda1,55814.71%
Democratic Ricardo Reyes Duenas1,12310.60%
Total votes10,591 100.00%
Mayor - Tinian and Aguiguan [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Covenant Jose Pangelinan San Nicolas 560 57.76%
Republican Joaquin Gillimon Adriano52248.24%
Total votes1,082 100.00%
Mayor - Rota [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Covenant Joseph Songao Inos 511 36.11%
Republican Vicente Manglona Atalig50035.34%
Independent Victor Borja Hocog 38527.21%
Independent Julian Taisacan Taimanao191.34%
Total votes1,415 100.00%

Municipal Council

Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Marian Deleon Guerrero Tudela 4,41617.95%
Nonpartisan Antonia Manibusan Tudela4,14516.85%
Nonpartisan Angel Songao Hocog4,05316.48%
Nonpartisan Gregorio Villagomez Deleon Guerrero3,66914.92%
Nonpartisan Francisco Pangelinan Rosario3,50714.26%
Nonpartisan Francisco Cabrera Tudela2,72311.07%
Nonpartisan Pedro Quitugua Deleon Guerrero2,0828.47%
Total votes24,595 100.00%
Municipal Council - Tinian and Aguiguan (non-partisan) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Francisco Q. Cruz57117.50%
Nonpartisan Charlene Manglona Lizama56417.28%
Nonpartisan Trenton Brian Conner54616.73%
Nonpartisan Eugenio Henry Lizama Villagomez54016.55%
Nonpartisan Joseph Torres San Nicolas53216.30%
Nonpartisan Concepcion Manglona51015.63%
Total votes3,263 100.00%
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Joey Anthony Quitugua90824.86%
Nonpartisan Roy James Atalig Masga77521.22%
Nonpartisan Mametto M. Ayuyu58215.93%
Nonpartisan David Songao Atalig56815.55%
Nonpartisan Manuel David Castro Atalig55615.22%
Nonpartisan Tom Glenn A. Quitugua2647.23%
Total votes3,653 100.00%

Board of education

Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Herman Tenorio Guerrero6,48865.17%
Nonpartisan John Berneser Joyner3,46834.83%
Total votes9,956 100.00%
Board of Education - Tinian and Aguiguan (non-partisan) [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Lucia Linda Blanco-Maratita58554.83%
Nonpartisan Don Allen Farrell48245.17%
Total votes1,067 100.00%

Justices

Both Supreme Court Justices won retention.

Justice For retention Against retention Total
Votes % Votes %
Alexandro Cruz Castro10,14480.43%2,46819.57%12,612
Miguel Sablan Demapan 8,70468.77%3,95331.23%12,657

Judges

Judge For retention Against retention Total
Votes % Votes %
David Arthur Wiseman✅8,83571.41%3,53828.59%12,373

Referendum

Constitutional Convention QuestionVotes%
For7,39458.92
Against5,15641.08
Invalid/blank votes
Total12,550100
Registered voters/turnout15,118
Source: Direct Democracy

References

  1. "Babauta wants 'concon' question in '05 polls". Saipan Tribune. September 13, 2004. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Northern Mariana Islands, 5 November 2005: Election of a Constitutional Convention Direct Democracy (in German)
  3. Eugenio, Haidee (November 23, 2009). "CNMI holds first runoff election". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  4. Staff, Variety News (September 14, 2012). "Variations: The price of hubris". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  5. Casas, Gemma Q. (October 13, 2009). "Registered voters up by 15%". Marianas Variety . Retrieved October 12, 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hernandez, Criselda B. (2005). "Politics: 4-Way Gubernatorial Election Heats Up". Islands Business . Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "2005 Election Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011.
  8. "2005 Election Results". Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2024.