2024 Northern Mariana Islands general election

Last updated
2024 Northern Mariana Islands general election
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg
5 November 2024
Delegate election
←  2022 5 November 20242026 →
  Ed Propst 23rd CNMI Leg.png Kimberlyn King-Hinds 2021.jpg 3x4.svg
NomineeEd PropstKimberlyn King-HindsJohn "Bolis" Gonzales
Party Democratic Republican Independent
Delegate before election

Gregorio Sablan
Independent

Elected Delegate
[ to be determined ]
[ to be determined ]
Senate election
←  2022
2026  →
3 of the 9 seats in the Senate
PartySeats
Republican
Independents
Democratic
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
House election
←  2022
2026  →
All 20 seats in the House of Representatives
11 seats needed for a majority
PartySeats
Republican
Democratic
Independents
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The 2024 Northern Mariana Islands general election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, [1] corresponding with the 2024 United States general elections. Voters in the Northern Mariana Islands will chose the non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives, 3 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, all twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, seats for the municipal council, and seats for the board of education.

Contents

Background

On the economic front, the Northern Mariana Islands faces many problems that were present in the 2022 general election. The territory is still attempting to recover after the COVID-19 Pandemic and its aftermath caused a complete collapse of the local tourism industry, creating a massive economic burden on the territory. Airlines have sent mixed signals on tourism recovery. Asiana Airlines suspended its flights and switched to a charter schedule until June 2024, citing low demand and the Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) adoption of a 90 percent hike in landing fees and a 79 percent increase in terminal rental fees back in September 2023. [2] [3] However, United Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines show positive attitudes towards economic recovery. Dan Weiss, United Airlines managing director for Global Government and Regulatory Affairs, stated that United is pleased with the performance of their “relatively new” Saipan-Tokyo Narita service. [4] After suspending its flights from Hong Kong to Saipan in 2019, Hong Kong Airlines announced that it would reintroduce its exclusive direct route to Saipan. [5] Despite confidence from Hong Kong Airlines, the worsening relations between the United States and China signals that Chinese and Hong Kong tourists, once a cornerstone of the local tourism industry, will likely not return to the levels seen before the COVID-19 Pandemic. [6] Less tourists from China will likely negatively impact the economy because, as Marianas Visitors Authority board chair Gloria Cavanagh points out, based on numbers the MVA has collected, Chinese tourists coming into the CNMI outspend their Korean counterparts by multiple times. [7] However, it appears that Chinese tourists, despite tensions with the United States, as well as Japanese and Korean tourists, despite their ongoing economic woes with a weaker Yen and Won compared to the Dollar, continue to come to the CNMI as the number of tourists have increased in January, [8] February, [9] and March [10] of 2024 compared to the same months in 2023, though still below pre-pandemic levels. [8] [9] [10]

The declining population has led to lower tax revenue and worse social services and economic conditions, leading to more people leaving and creating a cycle that is difficult to break and is placing pressure on the local government, especially on the incumbents. [11]

A defining aspect of Governor Arnold Palacios' Administration is austerity. [12] [13] On April 24, 2023, the Palacios Administration placed some executive branch employees on a 72-hour work schedule, reduced from 80 hours. [12] On October 4, 2023, Palacios reduced the work schedule to 70 hours. [14] Governor Palacios and his administration, through Directive 2024–1, also continued "Austerity Monday," which began in October 2020 when his predecessor, former Governor Ralph Torres, implemented it. [15] [16] Austerity Monday calls for the government to be closed every Monday following a payday or on a Tuesday if that Monday happens to be a holiday. [16] The Commonwealth Ports Authority board also adopted an eight-hour cut for all CPA employees and suspended its airline incentive program. [2] [3] Palacios and his coalition government implemented these measures to address fiscal issues [17] [13] but have placed significant strain on the local economy and could pose an issue to the current governing coalition of Independents and Democrats.

The mixed recovery, coupled with the strong push for austerity by the Palacios Administration, has created discontent among local small businesses, many of whom have voiced that the government could be doing more to support the local economy and its fledgling and crippled businesses. [18] [19] [20] The economic situation has created a scenario where locals, especially government officials and small businesses, watch for any docking cruise ship whose passengers disembark to spend and help prop up the local economy. [18] [21] [22]

Since the 2022 general election, the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives has comprised mainly independents, with thirteen seats compared to the three held by the Republicans and the four held by the Democrats. [23] [24] The Northern Mariana Islands Senate has Independents as the second largest bloc with three seats, behind the Republicans, who hold four seats, but ahead of the Democrats, who hold two seats. [25] [26] This is a rarity in the United States, where the Democrats and Republicans rarely ever face a unified independent bloc or viable third parties, and places the Northern Mariana Islands, which has a recent record of successful third parties and independent majorities, [27] [28] [29] in a unique politician position.

The CNMI is also witnessing a healthcare system that is inadequate to meet the needs of the territory, with many taking trips to neighboring Guam to obtain the services they need. [30]

Delegate to the US House of Representatives

On January 18, 2024, Delegate Gregorio Sablan, a Democrat, announced that he will not be seeking reelection [31] and endorsed fellow Democrat and current majority leader of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, Ed Propst. [32] Sablan, first elected in 2008, had held the seat since its creation in 2009. The CNMI Democratic Party endorsed Ed Propst. [33] The CNMI Republican Party endorsed Kimberlyn King-Hinds, former chair of the Commonwealth Ports Authority Board of Directors, as their candidate after John "Bolis" Gonzales, business consultant and independent candidate for U.S. House in 2008, withdrew from the primary, citing the primary being only for party members as his reason, and announced that he will be running as an independent. [34] [26] The Northern Mariana Islands' non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives are elected for a two-year term.

Northern Mariana Islands's at-large congressional district
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
 %
 %
Total votes%

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature

Results summary

PartiesHouse Election ResultsSeat ChangeParty Strength
2022 2024+/−Strength
  Independent 13  %
  Democratic 4  %
  Republican 3  %
Totals2020Steady2.svg100.00%
PartiesSenate Election ResultsSeat ChangeParty Strength
2022 2024+/−Strength
  Republican 4  %
  Independent 3  %
  Democratic 2  %
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. The governing Democrat-Independent coalition is entering the 2024 election cycle with five of nine seats, a majority over the four seats controlled by the Republicans. [25] [24] Each district had one seat open for the 2024 elections.

Rota 1st Senatorial District (1 seat)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%
Tinian 2nd Senatorial District (1 seat)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%
Saipan 3rd Senatorial District (1 seat)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%

House of Representatives

The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The house has seven districts and five of the seven are Multi-member districts. The governing Democrat-Independent coalition is entering the 2024 election cycle with sixteen of twenty seats, an overwhelming majority over the minority bloc of three Republicans and one independent. [23] [24] All twenty seats were up for the 2024 elections.

House of Representative - District 1: Saipan (6 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
%
%
%
%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan (6 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
%
%
%
%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%
House of Representative - District 5: Saipan (2 seats)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%
House of Representative - District 6: Tinian (1 seat)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%
House of Representative - District 7 Rota: (1 seat)
PartyCandidateVotes%
%
 %
Total votes100.00%

Municipal Council

Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan %
Nonpartisan  %
Total votes100.00%
Municipal Council - Tinian & Aguiguan (non-partisan)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan %
Nonpartisan  %
Total votes100.00%
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan %
Nonpartisan  %
Total votes100.00%

Board of education

Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan  %
Total votes100.00%
Board of Education - Rota (non-partisan)
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan  %
Total votes100.00%

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References

  1. ↑ TORRE, FERDIE DE LA (2024-02-23). "'Time to ask NMI voters whether to have another ConCon'". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  2. 1 2 Rabago, Mark (2024-03-06). "Asiana Airlines halts regular flights to Saipan". RNZ. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  3. 1 2 ESMORES, KIMBERLY B. (2024-03-05). "Asiana suspends regular flights". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  4. ↑ TORRE, FERDIE DE LA TORRE (2024-04-04). "United Airlines says it offers lower 'resident' fares". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  5. ↑ Johnson, Harry (March 19, 2024). "Hong Kong Airlines Resumes Hong Kong to Saipan Flights". eTurbo News. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  6. ↑ Dandan, Zaldy (2022-12-05). "A full-blown economic disaster". pactimes. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  7. ↑ TORRE, FERDIE DE LA (2024-02-13). "'China tourism market benefits whole CNMI economy'". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  8. 1 2 "Visitor arrivals up 92% in January". Saipan Tribune. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  9. 1 2 "Arrivals up 56% last February". Saipan Tribune. 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  10. 1 2 "Visitor arrivals up 60% in March". Saipan Tribune. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
  11. ↑ Dam, Andrew Van (2022-09-23). "Analysis | People are fleeing Puerto Rico, Guam and every other U.S. territory. What gives?". Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  12. 1 2 Manglona, Thomas (April 24, 2023). "CNMI administration begins austerity after first 100 days". www.kuam.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  13. 1 2 TORRE, FERDIE DE LA (2023-01-22). "Austerity, furloughs, discontinuing payment of 25% retirees' pension are all on the table". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  14. ↑ TORRE, FERDIE DE LA (2023-10-09). "New 70-hour work schedule set". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  15. ↑ "Today is 'Austerity Monday'". Marianas Variety News & Views. 2020-10-04. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  16. 1 2 Erediano, Emmanuel T. (2023-10-10). "Governor implements additional cost-cutting measures". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  17. ↑ Manglona, Thomas (January 12, 2023). "CNMI local, federal funds in deficit". www.kuam.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  18. 1 2 MARINO, CHRYSTAL (2024-03-07). "Small businesses still struggling to keep hope afloat". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  19. ↑ Roberto, Andrew (2024-02-28). "It's 'not looking good at all' for small businesses". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  20. ↑ Manglona, Thomas (March 5, 2024). "Saipan small business owners voice economic frustrations". www.kuam.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  21. ↑ Manabat, Bryan (2024-02-27). "Saipan welcomes MS Artania". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  22. ↑ ESMORES, KIMBERLY B. ESMORES (2024-01-05). "Cruise ship brings in nearly 4,000 visitors". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  23. 1 2 Erediano, Emmanuel T. (2023-01-13). "San Nicolas is House minority leader". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  24. 1 2 3 "2022 General Election Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  25. 1 2 Manglona, Thomas (November 16, 2022). "Independents, Democrats take control of the CNMI Senate". www.kuam.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  26. 1 2 Manglona, Thomas. "CNMI GOP endorses King-Hinds after Gonzales withdraws from primary, runs as Independent". www.kuam.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  27. ↑ Commonwealth Election Commission - 2012 Election Results". Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023
  28. ↑ "Commonwealth Election Commission - Election 2014 Results". Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ↑ "Fitial touts Covenant's CNMI-wide rule". Saipan Tribune. 2006-01-15. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  30. ↑ Stolyar, Lina; Orgera, Kendal; Published, Robin Rudowitz (2021-05-18). "Challenges in the U.S. Territories: COVID-19 and the Medicaid Financing Cliff". KFF. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  31. ↑ Manglona, Thomas. "NMI Del. Sablan will not seek re-election after 16 years in office". www.kuam.com. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  32. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (2024-02-29). "Kilili endorses Propst". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  33. ↑ "NMI Democrats endorse incumbents, Manny Castro for Saipan Senate". Saipan Tribune. 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  34. ↑ "Bolis to run for Congress". Marianas Variety News & Views. 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
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