2016 American Samoan general election

2016 American Samoan general election

Gubernatorial election

←  2012 November 8, 2016 (2016-11-08) 2020  →

Nominee Lolo Matalasi Moliga Faoa Aitofele Sunia Party Independent Independent Alliance Democratic Democratic Running mate Lemanu Peleti Mauga Larry Sanitoa Popular vote 7,235 4,305 Percentage 60.17% 35.80%

Results by voting district: Moliga :     50–55%     55–60%     60–65%     65–70%     70–75%     75–80% Sunia:     55–60%

Governor before election Lolo Matalasi Moliga Democratic Elected Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga Democratic

Delegate election

←  2014 2018  →

Candidate Amata Coleman Radewagen Salu Hunkin-Finau Mapu Jamias Party Republican Democratic Democratic Popular vote 8,924 1,581 978 Percentage 75.40% 13.26% 8.26%

Results by voting district: Radewagen:     55–60%     60–65%     65–70%     70–75%     75–80%     80–85%     85–90%

Delegate before election Amata Coleman Radewagen Republican Elected Delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen Republican

General elections were held in American Samoa on November 8, 2016, coinciding with the 2016 United States presidential elections and other US elections.

Incumbent Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga sought re-election and won, defeating Faoa Aitofele Sunia by 60% to 36%, while Tuika Tuika received 4% of the vote. ^[1]

Incumbent delegate Amata Coleman Radewagen, a Republican who had held the seat since 2015, also successfully sought re-election to a second term. ^[2] Aumua Amata won re-election with 75% of votes cast, the highest number of votes for any elective office in the history of American Samoa. ^[3]

Background

In November 2014 Radewagen defeated 10-term incumbent Democratic representative Eni Faleomavaega in a crowded race for the delegate seat. ^[4]

Gubernatorial candidates

• Lolo Matalasi Moliga, incumbent governor, affiliated with the Democratic Party

• Running mate: Lemanu Peleti Mauga, incumbent Lieutenant Governor ^[5]

• Faoa Aitofele Sunia, former lieutenant governor, affiliated with the Democratic Party

• Running mate: Larry Sanitoa, Territorial Representative ^[6]

• Tuika Tuika, accountant and candidate for governor in 2008, affiliated with the Republican Party

• Running mate: Iuni Maeva, veteran ^[7]

Delegate candidates

Five candidates filed to run for election to American Samoa's lone seat in the United States House of Representatives: three women and two men. ^[2] All elections in American Samoa were officially non-partisan, though candidates have identified with a particular political party.

Democratic

• Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau, educator, former president of American Samoa Community College, 2012 candidate for Governor of American Samoa, sister of former Delegate Eni Faleomavaega. ^[8]
• Paepaetele Mapu Saei Jamias, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, president of the American Samoa National Olympic Committee ^{[2] [9]}
• Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman, retired U.S. federal government employee ^[2]

Republican

• Amata Coleman Radewagen, incumbent delegate for the United States House of Representatives

Independents

• Tim Jones, engineer and 2012 candidate for Governor of American Samoa ^[2]

Withdrew

• Tua'au Kereti Mata'utia, withdrew from race on in July 2016 ^[10]

Campaign

Delegate

A congressional campaign forum, attended by all five candidates, was held at American Samoa Community College (ASCC) on October 6, 2016. ^[11]

Results

Governor

Candidate	Running mate	Votes	%
Lolo Matalasi Moliga	Lemanu Peleti Mauga	7,235	60.17
Faoa Aitofele Sunia	Larry Sanitoa	4,305	35.80
Tuika Tuika	Iuni Maeva	484	4.03
Total		12,024	100.00
Source: Election Office [1]

Delegate

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Amata Coleman Radewagen	Republican Party	8,924	75.40
	Salu Hunkin-Finau	Democratic Party	1,581	13.36
	Mapu Jamias	Democratic Party	978	8.26
	Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman	Democratic Party	181	1.53
	Timothy Jones	Independent	171	1.44
Total			11,835	100.00
Source: US House of Representatives [12]

House of Representatives

District	Candidate	Votes	%
1 – Manuʻa	Fetu Fetui Jr.	500	41.46
	Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr.	374	31.01
	Mailo Oge T. Nua	219	18.16
	Ofisa Asoau Jr.	113	9.37
2 – Manuʻa	Toeaina Faufano Autele	153	38.73
	Fetui Rames Howard Molipe	127	32.15
	Auega Taulaga Sualevai	72	18.23
	Taeaotui Punaofo Tilei	23	5.82
	Saiaona'i T. Tuiolosega	20	5.06
3 – Vaifanua	Lavea Fatulegae'e Palepoi Mauga	408	65.91
	Uta Dr. Laloulu Tagoilelagi	211	34.09
4 – Saole	Kitara Vaiau	169	36.19
	Talaimatai Elisara Su'a	117	25.05
	Va'asa Uluiva Simanu	111	23.77
	Manaea Fotu Leuta	70	14.99
5 – Sua #1	Puleleiite Li'a Tufele Jr.	161	31.08
	Tuialofi F. L. Tunupopo	149	28.76
	Uele Fale Savaliga Uele	118	22.78
	Ketesemane Meaole	90	17.37
6 – Sua #2	Matagi David Sialega Mauga	170	44.39
	Loia Gutu	110	28.72
	Limutau F.C. Limutau	76	19.84
	'Aulualo Folau Solofa Fatu	27	7.05
7 – Maoputasi #1	Vailoata Eteuati Amituana'i	332	68.74
	Salote Lutu Schuster	151	31.26
8 – Maoputasi #2	Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi	224	46.47
	Maugaoalii Le'apai Sipa Anoa'i	223	46.27
	Ta'amuolevaigafa Iakope Ta'amu	35	7.26
9 – Maoputasi #3	Ve'evalu Meauta Lauoi Mageo	287	35.21
	Fiasili Puni E. Haleck	267	32.76
	Pago Pagoa Freddy T. Malala	135	16.56
	Utaifeau Lefiu Bill Kalasa	126	15.46
10 – Maoputasi #4	Vaetasi Tu'umolimoli S. Moliga	148	53.24
	Fatima Faumuina Langkilde	81	29.14
	Tapai Alailepule Benjamin Vaivao	49	17.63
11 – Maoputasi #5	Faimealelei Anthony Fu'e Allen	220	46.51
	Barbara Pelina Fesilafa'i Salima	136	28.75
	Muaiavaona Fofoga Pila	117	24.74
12 – Ituau	Manumaua Wayne Wilson	1,037	41.90
	Sataua Dr. Mataese Samuelu	766	30.95
	Vaiaitu Mulinu'u Filo T Maluia	672	27.15
13 – Fofo	Fagaoatua Dorian T. Salave'a	348	37.74
	Andra Tereise Samoa	290	31.45
	Puletu D. Koko	284	30.80
14 – Lealataua	Savali Talavou Ale	408	100
15 – Tualauta	Samuel Ioka Ale Meleisea	978	23.29
	Vui Florence Tuāumu Saulo	760	18.10
	Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr.	754	17.96
	Ryan A. Peau	526	12.53
	Ufuti Fa'afetai Ieremia	522	12.43
	Bartley Lucia Su'a	386	9.19
	Saipai Cassens	148	3.52
	Leomiti Faitamai Leomiti	125	2.98
16 – Tualatai	Timusa Tini C. Lam Yuen	278	38.45
	Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase	206	28.49
	Galumalemana Bill Satele	108	14.94
	Nu'u Lefanoga Eseroma	81	11.20
	Taumanupepe Fm Hunkin Seumanu	44	6.09
	Fauolevavau Lopati Tuatagaloa	6	0.83
17 – Leasina	Gafatasi Afalava	272	60.04
	Atalina Asifoa	132	29.14
	Maneafaiga T. Faoa	49	10.82
Source: Election Office [13]

References

1. "General Election 2016 Results Governor and Lt. Governor November 8, 2016 – Unofficial" (PDF). Election Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
2. "Three for governor/lt governor, 5 for Congress, 62 for AS House". Talanei . September 2, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
3. "AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN". University of Hawaii. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020.
4. Sagapolutele, Fili (November 5, 2014). "Aumua Amata is our new non-voting Delegate to the US House" (PDF). Samoa News . Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
5. "Lolo Moliga standing again in American Samoa". Radio New Zealand . June 21, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
6. "Faoa & Sanitoa kicks off quest for leadership". Talanei.com. June 22, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
7. "Tuika Tuika & Iuni Maeva in the race". Talanei.com. September 14, 2016. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
8. "Vaitinasa declares her candidacy for Congress". Talanei . June 15, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
9. "Retired Lt. Col Mapy Jamoas 6th Person To Declare for U.S. Congress". Samoa News . July 15, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
10. "Tua'au Kereti Mata'utia pulls out of race". Talanei . July 14, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
11. "Congressional candidates on US citizenship". Talanei . October 12, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
12. "Election Statistics, 1920 to Present". US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. September 11, 2001. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
13. "UNOFFICIAL RESULTS 2016 GENERAL ELECTION HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES" (PDF). American Samoa Government Election Office.