# 2022 Northern Mariana Islands general election

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.
A runoff for the gubernatorial race were held on Friday, 25 November 2022. Total registered voters was 19,275. The general election saw turnout of 14,750 voters, or 76.52%, while the runoff saw a turnout of 13,094 voters, around 67.93%. This election saw the election of the CNMI's first independent governor and lieutenant governor. Both the CNMI Democratic Party and the CNMI Republican Party displayed lackluster results when compared to the independents in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. This election also saw the first time the Democratic Party contested the governorship since the 2014 Northern Mariana Islands general election and the first time said party received more than 10% of the popular vote since the 2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election.

## Background

The Republican Party entered the 2022 general election with the baggage of their lost trifecta from the 2020 general election, which saw the slumbering CNMI Democratic Party awaken and gain control of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives through a coalition with several independent members and a single-seat in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate. The Republicans also dealt with several corruption scandals revolving around incumbent Governor Ralph Torres, though Judge pro tempore Alberto E. Tolentino's decision to not try Governor Torres until after the election cycle allowed the incumbent governor to participate in the election. This allowed a three-way race for the governorship between a resurgent Democratic Party, an incumbent Republican Party, and a former Republican turned Independent, to occur.
On the economic front, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath caused a complete collapse of the local tourism industry, creating a massive economic burden on the territory. Flights between the CNMI and fellow US Territory Guam, as well as countries such as Japan and Korea, dropped to record lows or were suspended completely, severely damaging the economy. The worsening relations between the United States and China also signalled that Chinese tourists, once a cornerstone of the local tourism industry, will likely not return to the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. The CNMI also witnessed a massive 73% decline in the number of foreign workers from 2001 to 2020, a sign of the lack of economic opportunity on the island and a key contributor to the declining population. 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.
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.

## Gubernatorial election

Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres, the incumbent republican governor ran for another term alongside running mate Vinson Flores "Vinnie" Sablan. Lieutenant Governor Arnold Indalecio Palacios, a career republican, also contested the seat as an independent with Saipan mayor David Mundo Apatang as his running mate. For the first time since the 2014 Northern Mariana Islands general election, the Democratic Party contested the gubernatorial race, nominating Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives member and the first woman to be nominated for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, Christina Marie Elise Sablan (Tina Sablan). She chose fellow territorial representative Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler as her running mate.
In the general election, Ralph Torres came in first with 38.83% of the vote, followed by Arnold Palacios at 33.15% and Tina Sablan at 28.01%. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff between Ralph Torres and Arnold Palacios was held on 25 November 2022. Tina Sablan and Leila Staffler endorsed Arnold Palacios in the runoff, and Arnold Palacios and David Apatang signed a "unity pledge" with them promising action on several policy issues, including health care, labor, and infrastructure.
Arnold Palacios and David Apatang won the runoff election with 54.14% of the vote to 45.86% for Ralph Torres and Sablan. Palacios was the first independent elected Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands and the first independent to win a gubernatorial election in any U.S. state or territory since 2014.

### Candidates
#### Democratic Party

* Christina Marie Elise Sablan (Tina Sablan), former member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2008-2010 and 2019–2023)
** Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler, Staffler's former principal of Kagman High School (2013–2021) and former member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2021–2023)

#### Independents

* Arnold Indalecio Palacios, former lieutenant governor (2019–2023), former president of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate (2017–2019), former member of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate (2015–2019), former Secretary of Lands and Natural Resources (2012–2015), former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Northern Mariana Islands (2008–2010)
** David Mundo Apatang, Palacios' former Mayor of Saipan (2015–2023)

#### Republican Party

* Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres, incumbent governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (serving since 2015), former lieutenant governor (2015), former president of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate (2013–2015), and former chairman of the Health & Welfare Committee (2010–2015)
** Vinson Flores "Vinnie" Sablan, Torres' running mate and former member of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate (2019–2023)

### Results

Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Running mate | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Arnold Indalecio Palacios | David Mundo Apatang | 4,890 | 33.15% | 7,394 | 54.14% |
| | Republican | Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (incumbent) | Vinson Flores "Vinnie" Sablan | 5,728 | 38.83% | 6,263 | 45.86% |
| | Democratic | Christina Marie Elise Sablan (Tina Sablan) | Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler | 4,132 | 28.01% |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 14,750 | 100% | 13,657 | 100% |
| | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican |

## Delegate to the US House of Representatives

Incumbent Representative Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, previously an independent who caucused with the Democratic Party, ran for re-election as the Democratic nominee for the first time in his career. Sablan, first elected in 2008, had held the seat since its creation in 2009. Delegate Gregorio Sablan was re-elected. The Northern Mariana Islands' non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives was elected for a two-year term.
Northern Mariana Islands's at-large congressional district :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (incumbent) | 12,315 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,315 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic gain from Independent | Democratic gain from Independent | Democratic gain from Independent | Democratic gain from Independent |

## Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature
### Results summary

Party strength :
| Parties | Parties | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | +/− | Strength |
| | Independent | 3 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 65.00% |
| | Democratic | 8 | 9 (1) | 4 | 5 | 20.00% |
| | Republican | 9 | 8 (1) | 3 | 5 | 15.00% |
| Totals | Totals | 20 | 20 | 20 | | 100.00% |
Party strength :
| Parties | Parties | 2020 | 2022 | +/− | Strength |
| | Republican | 5 | 4 | 1 | 44.44% |
| | Independent | 3 | 3 | | 33.33% |
| | Democratic | 1 | 2 | 1 | 22.22% |
| Totals | Totals | 9 | 9 | | 100.00% |

### 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. Each district had two seats open for the 2022 elections.
Rota 1st Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Donald Manalang Manglona | 905 | 34.35% |
| | Republican | Dennis James Camacho Mendiola | 748 | 28.39% |
| | Independent | Crispin Manglona Ogo | 415 | 15.75% |
| | Republican | Efraim Manglona Atalig | 364 | 13.81% |
| | Independent | Edward Castro Jr. Maratita | 203 | 7.70% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,635 | 100.00% |
Tinian 2nd Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Francisco Quichuchu Cruz (incumbent) | 932 | 43.13% |
| | Republican | Jude Untalan Hofschneider (incumbent) | 808 | 37.39% |
| | Independent | Thomasa Rita Palacios Mendiola | 421 | 19.48% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,161 | 100.00% |
Saipan 3rd Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Celina Roberto Babauta | 5,744 | 25.80% |
| | Independent | Corina Lorraine Magofna | 5,202 | 23.37% |
| | Republican | Angel Aldan Demapan | 4,887 | 21.95% |
| | Republican | Janet Ulloa Maratita | 3,651 | 16.40% |
| | Independent | Andrew Sablan Salas | 2,780 | 12.49% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,264 | 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 seven districts, and five of the seven are multi-member districts. All twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives were contested in the 2022 election.
House of Representative - District 1: Saipan (6 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edwin Kenneth Propst (incumbent) | 2,296 | 11.21% |
| | Independent | Vincent Raymond Seman Aldan (incumbent) | 1,800 | 8.79% |
| | Independent | Joseph Arriola Flores (incumbent) | 1,771 | 8.64% |
| | Republican | Roy Christopher Aldan Ada (incumbent) | 1,754 | 8.56% |
| | Democratic | Diego Vincent Fejeran Camacho (incumbent) | 1,717 | 8.38% |
| | Independent | Roman Cepeda Benavente (incumbent) | 1,672 | 8.16% |
| | Republican | Frankie Fernando Angel | 1,637 | 7.99% |
| | Independent | Raymond Ulloa Palacios | 1,611 | 7.86% |
| | Republican | Arlene Marie Mendiola Reyes | 1,548 | 7.56% |
| | Republican | Patrick Matagolai Cepeda | 1,387 | 6.77% |
| | Republican | Lucinda Rose Rosario Selepeo | 1,273 | 6.21% |
| | Independent | Shawn Byron Delos Reyes Kaipat | 1,050 | 5.13% |
| | Independent | Benjamin Cepeda | 971 | 4.74% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,487 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | John Paul Palacios Sablan (incumbent) | 825 | 37.20% |
| | Independent | Manny Gregory Tenorio Castro | 760 | 34.27% |
| | Republican | Keith Cabrera Ada | 340 | 15.33% |
| | Republican | Eric Bayani Esteves | 293 | 13.21% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,218 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan (6 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Blas Jonathan "BJ" Tenorio Attao (incumbent) | 1,947 | 12.02% |
| | Independent | Edmund Joseph Sablan Villagomez (incumbent) | 1,945 | 12.00% |
| | Independent | Ralph Naraja Yumul (incumbent) | 1,590 | 9.81% |
| | Democratic | Denita Kaipat Yangetmai (incumbent) | 1,335 | 8.24% |
| | Independent | Marissa Renee Flores | 1,258 | 7.76% |
| | Democratic | Vicente Castro Camacho (incumbent) | 1,232 | 7.60% |
| | Republican | Quaid Taima Ngirchongor | 1,103 | 6.81% |
| | Republican | Joaquin Sablan | 1,011 | 6.24% |
| | Independent | Delbert Taitano Pua | 1,006 | 6.21% |
| | Democratic | Lauren Yvonne Sonis Pangelinan | 1,004 | 6.20% |
| | Republican | Grace Sablan | 982 | 9.06% |
| | Republican | Carl Ogo Hocog | 908 | 5.60% |
| | Republican | Ana Demapan Castro | 883 | 5.45% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,204 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan & Northern Islands (4D) (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Joel Castro Camacho (incumbent) | 930 | 33.14% |
| | Independent | Malcom Omar | 826 | 29.44% |
| | Republican | Cecilia Remedio Taitano | 594 | 21.17% |
| | Republican | David Randy Reyes Sablan | 456 | 16.25% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,806 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 5: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Angelo Atalig Camacho | 1,156 | 29.31% |
| | Republican | Thomas John Dela Cruz Manglona | 999 | 25.33% |
| | Independent | Juan Ulloa Maratita | 701 | 17.77% |
| | Democratic | Peter Reyes Muna | 603 | 15.29% |
| | Independent | Ignacio Villagomez Cabrera | 485 | 12.30% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,944 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 6: Tinian (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Patrick Hofschneider San Nicolas (incumbent) | 736 | 61.74% |
| | Democratic | Frederick Arend Dela Cruz | 456 | 38.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,192 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
House of Representative - District 7: Rota (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Julie Marie Atalig Ogo | 623 | 43.87% |
| | Republican | Ivan Mereb | 481 | 33.87% |
| | Independent | Edward Castro Barcinas | 316 | 22.25% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,420 | 100.00% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

## Mayors

All four mayoral posts were up for election across the Commonwealth.
Mayor - Saipan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Ramon Jose Bias Camacho | 4,503 | 38.04% |
| | Republican | Joseph Leepan Tenorio Guerrero | 4,184 | 35.34% |
| | Democratic | Richard Tudela Lizama | 3,152 | 26.62% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,839 | 100.00% |
| | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican |
Mayor - Tinian :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edwin Palacios Aldan (incumbent) | 1,096 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,096 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Mayor - Rota :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Aubry Manglona Hocog | 505 | 34.95% |
| | Independent | Harry James Atalig Masga | 470 | 32.53% |
| | Independent | Teresita Apatang Santos | 288 | 19.93% |
| | Independent | Magdalena San Nicolas Mesngon | 159 | 11.00% |
| | Independent | Alfredo Taisacan Taimanao | 23 | 1.59% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,445 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Mayor - Northern Islands (4D) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Valentino Nicky Taisacan | 109 | 63.74% |
| | Independent | Jocelyn Frances Kapileo | 62 | 36.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 171 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Attorney General

Attorney General (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Edward Eladio Manibusan | 7,524 | 55.17% |
| | Nonpartisan | Juan Tudela Lizama | 6,113 | 44.83% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,637 | 100.00% |

## Municipal Council

Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (4D) (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Marian Deleon Guerrero Tudela | 5,419 | 18.91% |
| | Nonpartisan | Carmen Cabrera Pangelinan | 4,857 | 16.95% |
| | Nonpartisan | Antonia Manibusan Tudela | 4,522 | 15.78% |
| | Nonpartisan | Liana Sablan Hofschneider | 3,822 | 13.34% |
| | Nonpartisan | Eusebio Camacho Borja | 3,560 | 12.42% |
| | Nonpartisan | Joseph Muna Mendiola | 3,523 | 12.30% |
| | Nonpartisan | Daniel Jr. Aquino | 2,949 | 10.29% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,652 | 100.00% |
Municipal Council - Tinian & Aguiguan (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Ana Marie Cruz San Nicolas | 972 | 30.25% |
| | Nonpartisan | Joseph Romaldo Evangelista Santos | 930 | 28.94% |
| | Nonpartisan | Estevan Pangelinan Cabrera | 808 | 25.15% |
| | Nonpartisan | Juanita Masga Mendiola | 503 | 15.66% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,213 | 100.00% |
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Jonovan Hocog Lizama | 924 | 25.17% |
| | Nonpartisan | Frederick Jr. Atalig Manglona | 855 | 23.29% |
| | Nonpartisan | Jim Michael Atalig | 658 | 17.92% |
| | Nonpartisan | Lorita Mesngon Manglona | 630 | 17.16% |
| | Nonpartisan | Cecile Florence Blas | 604 | 16.45% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,671 | 100.00% |

## Board of education

Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (4D) (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Andrew Lujan Orsini | 7,312 | 66.75% |
| | Nonpartisan | Robert Charles Harrel | 3,643 | 33.25% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,955 | 100.00% |
Board of Education - Tinian & Aguiguan (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Anotonio Ramon Lunag Borja | 928 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 928 | 100.00% |

## Justices

| Justice | For retention | For retention | Against retention | Against retention | Total |
| Justice | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total |
| John A. Manglona | 11,014 | 82.85% | 2,280 | 17.15% | 13,294 |

## Judges

| Judge | For retention | For retention | Against retention | Against retention | Total |
| Judge | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total |
| Joseph Norita Camacho | 10,180 | 74.90% | 3,412 | 25.10% | 13,592 |
| Wesley Matthew Bogdan | 9,033 | 71.84% | 3,540 | 28.16% | 12,573 |