2018 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election

Last updated

2018 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg
  2014 November 13, 2018 [1] 2022  
  Ralph Torres.jpg FEMA - 7324 - Photograph by Andrea Booher taken on 12-20-2002 in Northern Mariana Islands (cropped).jpg
Nominee Ralph Torres Juan Babauta
Party Republican Independent
Running mate Arnold Palacios Rita Sablan
Popular vote7,0534,293
Percentage62.2%37.8%

Northern Mariana Islands 2018 gubernatorial election map.svg
Results by voting district:
Ralph Torres:     55–60%     60–65%     65–70%     70–75%

Governor before election

Ralph Torres
Republican

Elected Governor

Ralph Torres
Republican

The 2018 Northern Mariana gubernatorial election took place on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, 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. Incumbent Republican governor Ralph Torres, who ascended to governorship in December 2015 following the death of Governor Eloy Inos, sought election to a full term. [2] [3]

Contents

The election, which corresponds to the larger Northern Mariana general election and the United States midterms, was originally scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. [1] However, Governor Ralph Torres postponed all elections in the territory until November 13 due to the impact of Typhoon Yutu, which struck the Northern Mariana Islands as a Category 5 storm in October 2018, shortly before the planned elections. [1]

Unlike past gubernatorial elections, there was no runoff election in 2018, since there are only two candidates contesting the gubernatorial contest, incumbent Ralph Torres and former governor Juan Babauta. [4] On November 13, 2018, Governor Torres won his first full term as Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. [5]

Election background

In the 2014 gubernatorial race, Republican governor Eloy Inos and his running mate, Ralph Torres, were elected to a full four-year term. The Inos-Torres ticket defeated independent candidate, Heinz Hofschneider, in the gubernatorial runoff on November 18, 2014.

Governor Eloy Inos died in office at a hospital in Seattle, Washington, on Monday, December 28, 2015 (local time in Seattle). [6] Because of the time difference between Seattle, it was already Tuesday morning, December 29, in the Northern Mariana Islands at the time of Governor Inos' death. [6] Lieutenant Governor Ralph Torres became the new Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands on Tuesday, December 29, to serve the remainder of Inos' unexpired term. [6] [7] Victor Hocog, the then-President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, was sworn in as the new Lieutenant Governor later that day on December 29. [7]

On November 8, 2017, Lt. Governor Victor Hocog announced that he would not run for re-election as lieutenant governor in 2018. [8] Instead, Hocog would seek election for one of the two Senate seats representing the island of Rota in the 2018 general election. [8] [9]

Governor Ralph Torres declared his candidacy for a full term in a press conference on November 19, 2017, at his home in As Teo. [2] [3] Torres chose Senate President Arnold Palacios as his new running mate for lieutenant governor in 2018 gubernatorial contest. [2] [3]

Juan Babauta, the former Governor from 2002 to 2006, announced his candidacy on April 12, 2018, as an independent. [10] He selected Dr. Rita Sablan, the former commissioner of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System, as his running mate for lieutenant governor. [10] His candidacy was supported by territorial delegate Gregorio Sablan, an independent who caucuses with the national Democratic Party in Congress. [11]

Election postponement

The Northern Mariana Islands' general and gubernatorial elections were originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to correspond with the nationwide 2018 United States midterm elections. However, Typhoon Yutu made landfall in the Northern Mariana Islands as a Category 5 super typhoon, devastating the main islands of Saipan and Tinian. In response, Governor Torres postponed all elections in the Northern Mariana Islands until Tuesday, November 13, 2018, including the gubernatorial race. [1]

Early voting was held from Tuesday, November 6, 2018, until Monday, November 12, 2018. [12]

Candidates

Withdrew

Endorsements

Juan Babauta and Rita Sablan
Ralph Torres and Arnold Palacios
Commonwealth-wide officeholders
Legislators

Results

The gubernatorial contest was held on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, having been delayed one week due to recovery efforts from Typhoon Yutu. Early voting began on November 6. [1] Incumbent Ralph Torres won re-election to his first full term. [23]

Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Ralph Torres and Arnold Palacios 8,92262.2%
Independent Juan Babauta and Rita Sablan5,42037.8%
Total votes14,342 100%

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Babauta</span> Northern Mariana Islander politician

Juan Nekai Babauta is a Northern Mariana Islander politician who served as the sixth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from January 14, 2002, to January 9, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands</span> Political party in the Northern Mariana Islands

The Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands is a political party in the Northern Mariana Islands. It began as a purely local territorial party and is now officially affiliated with the United States' national Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benigno Fitial</span>

Benigno Repeki Fitial is a Northern Marianan politician who served was the seventh governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. The second longest-serving governor in CNMI history, Fitial was elected on November 6, 2005, assumed office on January 9, 2006, and was re-elected to a (five-year) second term in 2009. He was impeached by the CNMI House of Representatives on February 11, 2013, and was scheduled to face trial before the CNMI Senate to determine if he should be removed from office. He resigned on February 20, 2013, after 7 years, 1 month, and 11 days in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Northern Mariana Islands general election</span>

The 2009 Northern Mariana Islands general election were held on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Voters in the Northern Mariana Islands voted for the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, 6 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, all twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 4 mayors, seats for the municipal council, and seats for the board of education. Additionally, a referendum was held.

Rita Hocog Inos was a Northern Mariana Island educator, activist and politician. Inos was the former Education Commissioner of the Northern Marianas school system and served on the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents. Inos was a two-time candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, becoming the first woman to seek election to that particular office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnold Palacios</span> Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands since 2023

Arnold Indalecio Palacios is a Northern Marianan politician currently serving as the tenth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, since 2023. A political independent, he previously served as the 12th lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from 2019 to 2023, and was a member of the Republican Party until 2021. He represented Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate.

Heinz Sablan Hofschneider is a politician from the Northern Mariana Islands. Hofschneider served as the Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives from 2002 to 2004 and is a four-time candidate for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Jesus "Jesse" Camacho Borja is a Northern Mariana Islander politician and lawyer who served as the fourth lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from January 10, 1994 until January 12, 1998 under former Democratic Governor Froilan Tenorio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Northern Mariana Islands general election</span>

The 2014 Northern Mariana Islands general election were held on Tuesday, 4 November, 2014. The election coincided with the 2014 United States midterm elections. 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 twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 4 mayors, seats for the municipal council, and seats for the board of education. Additionally, a referendum involving changes to the constitution was held.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Torres</span> Northern Marianan politician (born 1979)

Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres is a Northern Marianan politician, who served as the ninth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, from December 29, 2015, to January 9, 2023. He is a Republican from Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The third longest-serving governor in CNMI history, Torres took office upon the death of Governor Eloy Inos on December 29, 2015, before being reelected as governor in his own right in 2018. He previously served as the tenth lieutenant governor, having been elected to that post in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victor Hocog</span> Northern Marianan politician

Victor Borja Hocog is a Northern Marianan politician. He served as the President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate from January 14, 2019 to January 11, 2021, and previously from January 12, 2015 to December 29, 2015. He also served as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from December 29, 2015 to January 14, 2019.

Angel Aldan Demapan is a Northern Mariana Islands politician affiliated with the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election</span>

The 2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election were held on Tuesday, 13 November 2018. Originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 6 November 2018, to correspond with the 2018 United States midterm elections, the elections were delayed by one week due to the impact and aftermath of Typhoon Yutu. Early voting was held from Tuesday, 6 November, until Monday, 12 November 2018. An estimated 18,975 voters were eligible to vote in the 2018 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tina Sablan</span> Northern Mariana Islands politician

Christina-Marie Elise Sablan, also known as Tina Sablan, is a Northern Marianan politician and former news anchor in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). A member of the Democratic Party, Sablan was a member of the Commonwealth House of Representatives, representing Precinct Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leila Staffler</span> American politician and educator

Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler is an American politician and educator who serves as the Secretary of Labor in the administration of Governor Arnold Palacios. She was confirmed on March 29, 2023 by the Northern Mariana Islands Senate. Prior to her cabinet position, she was a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives for the 5th district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Northern Mariana Islands general election</span>

The 2022 Northern Mariana Islands general election were held on Tuesday, 8 November 2022, corresponding with the 2022 United States general elections. 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 twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 4 mayors, seats for the municipal council, seats for the board of education, a justice, and 2 judges.

Joseph Songao Inos is a politician from the Northern Mariana Islands. He has served as a member of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate and as the Mayor of Rota.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Sinco Kelleher, Jennifer (2018-10-29). "Northern Mariana Islands elections delayed as community recovers from devastating super typhoon". Associated Press . Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Archived from the original on 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2018-11-03.
  2. 1 2 3 Villahermosa, Cherrie Anne E. (2017-11-21). "Torres announces Palacios as running mate for 2018". The Guam Daily Post. Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Encinares, Erwin (2017-11-20). "Torres-Palacios ticket affirmed". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2018-02-10. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  4. De La Torre, Ferdie (2017-08-09). "No runoff election". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
  5. Torres wins in landslide CNMI election
  6. 1 2 3 Miculka, Cameron (2015-12-29). "CNMI Gov. Eloy Inos dies". Pacific Daily News . Archived from the original on 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  7. 1 2 Chan, Dennis B. (2018-12-30). "Torres becomes governor; Hocog is lt. gov". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  8. 1 2 Encinares, Erwin (2017-11-14). "Hocog announces Senate bid". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  9. De La Torre, Ferdie (2018-07-12). "Lt. Gov. Hocog, Rota Mayor Atalig file candidacies". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  10. 1 2 3 4 De La Torre, Ferdie (2018-04-13). "Babauta, Sablan announce candidacies". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2018-06-16. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  11. "Kilili endorses Babauta-Sablan team". Saipan Tribune. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  12. De La Torre, Ferdie (2018-11-12). "Early voting ends today, Monday". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
  13. De la Torre, Ferdie (2017-01-09). "20th legislature to convene today". The Guam Daily Post. Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  14. Perez, Jon (2016-07-28). "Rita Sablan to retire as Education commissioner". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  15. Perez, Jon (2016-08-09). "Pangelinan is acting PSS commissioner". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  16. 1 2 De La Torre, Ferdie (2018-01-22). "Joseph S. Inos is Dems' gubernatorial bet". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  17. Dandan, Zaldy (2019). "Micronesia in Review: Issues and Events (1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018)". Contemporary Pacific . 31 (1): 184. Retrieved April 22, 2024 via eVols.
  18. "Joseph Inos withdraws from gubernatorial race". Marianas Variety . 2018-02-08. Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  19. "Inos to announce running mate on Feb. 15". Saipan Tribune. 2018-02-04. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Dandan, Zaldy (2020). "Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands". The Contemporary Pacific . Vol. 32, no. 1. University of Hawaiʻi Press. pp. 225–231. Retrieved April 18, 2024 via eVols.
  21. Perez, Jon (July 11, 2018). "Democrats support Babauta-Sablan ticket". Saipan Tribune . Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  22. Erediano, Emmanuel T. (11 July 2018). "Democrats endorse Babauta-Sablan". Marianas Variety . Archived from the original on 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  23. "2018 Election Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. November 2018. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.