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This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Guam |
General elections were held in Guam on 7 November 1978 in order to elect the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Legislature, the island's United States House of Representatives delegate and members of the Territorial Board of Education, as well as determining whether Judge Richard H. Benson from the Superior Court should remain in place. [1] Primary elections were held on 2 September. [1]
Guam is an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States in Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean. It is the easternmost point and territory of the United States, along with the Northern Mariana Islands. The capital city of Guam is Hagåtña and the most populous city is Dededo. The inhabitants of Guam are called Guamanians, and they are American citizens by birth. Indigenous Guamanians are the Chamorros, who are related to other Austronesian natives of Eastern Indonesia and Philippines and Taiwan. Guam has been a member of the Pacific Community since 1983.
The Guamanian self-governing government consists of a locally elected Governor, Lieutenant Governor and a fifteen-member Legislature. The first popular election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor took place in 1970. The current Lieutenant Governor is Josh Tenorio, who has been in office since January 7, 2019.
The Legislature of Guam is the law-making body for the United States territory of Guam. The unicameral legislative branch consists of fifteen senators, each serving for a two-year term. All members of the legislature are elected at-large with the island under one whole district. After the enactment of the Guam Organic Act in 1950, the First Guam Legislature was elected composing of 21 elected members. Today, the current fifteen-member 35th Guam Legislature was elected in November 2018.
The electoral system for the Legislature was changed prior to the elections. Previously voters had elected all 21 members of the Legislature from a single national district. The 1978 elections saw the island split into several districts, with five elected in the First District, seven in the Second District, four in the Third District and five in the Fourth District. [1]
Governor and Lieutenant Governor | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Lieutenant candidate | Votes | % |
Democratic Party | Ricardo Bordallo | Pedro C. Sanchez | 6,995 | 34.2 |
Rudy Sablan | Jose Iglesias Leon Guerrero | 5,153 | 25.2 | |
Republican Party | Paul McDonald Calvo | Joseph Franklin Ada | 7,525 | 36.8 |
Independent | Carl Gutierrez | Joseph Dizon | 762 | 3.7 |
Invalid/blank votes | 2,845 | – | ||
Total | 23,280 | 100 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 29,809 | 78.1 | ||
Source: Guam Election Commission |
Delegate | |||
---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
Antonio Borja Won Pat | Democratic Party | 19,367 | 95.3 |
Write-in | 951 | 4.7 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 2,757 | – | |
Total | 23,075 | 100 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 29,809 | 77.4 | |
Source: Guam Election Commission |
Candidate | Lieutenant candidate | Party | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican Party | Paul McDonald Calvo | Joseph Franklin Ada | 13,649 | 52.1 |
Democratic Party | Ricardo Bordallo | Pedro C. Sanchez | 12,540 | 47.9 |
Invalid/blank votes | 1,090 | – | ||
Total | 27,279 | 100 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 32,170 | 84.8 | ||
Source: Guam Election Commission |
Party | Votes | % | Seats | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican Party | 72,678 | 55.0 | 14 | ||
Democratic Party | 59,468 | 45.0 | 7 | ||
Total | 132,146 | 100 | 21 | ||
Source: Guam Election Commission |
Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
Antonio Borja Won Pat | Democratic Party | 21,123 | 91.0 |
Write-in | 2,088 | 9.0 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 3,957 | – | |
Total | 27,168 | 100 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 32,170 | 84.5 | |
Source: Guam Election Commission |
Shall Judge Richard H. Benson of the Superior Court be retained in office?
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
For | 20,476 | 80.8 | |
Against | 4,876 | 19.2 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 1,822 | – | |
Total | 27,174 | 100 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 32,170 | 84.5 | |
Source: Guam Election Commission |
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