# 2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election

The 2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election was held on Saturday, 5 November 2005. 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 eighteen seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 3 mayors, seats for the municipal council, seats for the board of education, 2 justices, and a judges. There was also a referendum on calling a Constitutional Convention, which was approved by voters.
The gubernatorial election was the closest in the commonwealth's history, and resulted in the election of Benigno Fitial, narrowly defeating independent Heinz Hofschneider by 84 votes and incumbent Republican Governor Juan N. Babauta by an additional 98 votes. This would be the last year that the gubernatorial race would work in a first-past-the-post voting system as it would be reformed to work under a two-round system for the 2009 general elections. This election made commonwealth history by electing both the territory's first Carolinian governor and its first third party governor.

## Background

The referendum on the Constitutional Convention was called in order to comply with Chapter XVIII, article 2 of the constitution, which required a referendum to be held at least every ten years on convening such a convention. A referendum had been due in 2003 as the last referendum had been in 1993, but the legislature had failed to organise it.
15,118 people registered with the Election Commission to vote.

## Gubernatorial election
### Candidates

Four candidates ran for governor, each with a running mate:

#### Covenant Party

* Benigno Repeki Fitial of the Covenant Party, sitting Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives and 2001 gubernatorial candidate.
** Timothy Pangelinan Villagomez, sitting Northern Mariana Islands Representative and Vice Speaker of the House at the time of the election.

#### Democratic Party

* Froilan Cruz "Lang" Tenorio of the Democratic Party, former Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (1994–1998).
** Antonio Aguon Santos, educator and teacher.

#### Independent

* Heinz Sablan Hofschneider, an independent, a sitting member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives and former Speaker until 2003. Hofschneider is a Republican, but ran as an independent in this election.
** David Mundo Apatang, sitting Northern Mariana Islands Representative.

#### Republican Party

* Juan Babauta of the Republican Party, incumbent Governor elected in 2001.
** Diego Tenorio Benavente, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands elected in 2001.

### Results

Northern Mariana Islands Gubernatorial Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Running mate | Results | Results |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Benigno Repeki Fitial | Timothy Pangelinan Villagomez | 3,766 | 27.95% |
| | Independent | Heinz Sablan Hofschneider | David Mundo Apatang | 3,682 | 27.33% |
| | Republican | Juan Nekai Babauta (incumbent) | Diego Tenorio Benavente (incumbent) | 3,584 | 26.60% |
| | Democratic | Froilan Cruz "Lang" Tenorio | Antonio Aguon Santos | 2,440 | 18.11% |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 13,472 | 100% |
| | Covenant gain from Republican | Covenant gain from Republican | Covenant gain from Republican | Covenant gain from Republican |

## Resident Representative to U.S. Congress

This was the last election to have Resident Representative to U.S. Congress. In 2008, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, signed into law by President George W. Bush, replaced the position of resident representative with a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives. The new position received the power to serve in congressional committees, to introduce bills, and to vote on proposed legislation in committee, but still had limited powers on the House floor, lacking the right to vote on legislation on the House floor.
CNMI Resident Representative to U.S. Congress :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Pedro Agulto Tenorio | 8,308 | 64.63% |
| | Covenant | Juan Sablan Demapan | 4,547 | 35.37% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,855 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

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

Party Strength :
| Parties | Parties | 2003 | 2005 | +/− | Strength |
| | Republican | 7 | 7 | | 38.89% |
| | Covenant | 9 | 7 | 2 | 38.89% |
| | Independent | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11.11% |
| | Democratic | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11.11% |
| Totals | Totals | 18 | 18 | | 100.00% |
Party Strength :
| Parties | Parties | 2003 | 2005 | +/− | Strength |
| | Covenant | 3 | 3 | | 33.33% |
| | Republican | 2 | 3 | 1 | 33.33% |
| | Democratic | 2 | 2 | | 22.22% |
| | Independent | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11.11% |
| 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. Six seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate were up for the 2005 election.
Rota 1st Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Felix Taisacan Mendiola | 634 | 23.62% |
| | Republican | Paterno Songao Hocog | 605 | 22.54% |
| | Covenant | Jovita Maratita Taimanao | 599 | 22.32% |
| | Republican | Diego Maratita Songao | 550 | 20.49% |
| | Democratic | Eusebio Atalig Hocog | 201 | 7.49% |
| | Independent | Nobert Hocog Mendiola | 95 | 3.54% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,684 | 100.00% |
Tinian 2nd Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Joseph Masga Mendiola | 583 | 26.77% |
| | Republican | Jude Untalan Hofschneider | 550 | 25.25% |
| | Republican | Ramon Muna Dela Cruz | 533 | 24.47% |
| | Covenant | Joaquin Hoashi Borja | 512 | 23.51% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,178 | 100.00% |
Saipan & Northern Islands 3rd Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Maria Frica Tudela Pangelinan | 4,894 | 24.43% |
| | Independent | Pete Pangelinan Reyes | 4,378 | 21.85% |
| | Covenant | Claudio Kotomar Norita | 4,270 | 21.31% |
| | Republican | Thomas Pangelinan Villagomez | 2,805 | 14.00% |
| | Republican | Andrew Sablan Salas | 2,717 | 13.56% |
| | Democratic | Joaquin Terlaje Quitugua | 970 | 4.84% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,034 | 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 six districts, several of which are Multi-member districts. All 18 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives were contested in the 2005 election. This was the last election to have 18 members.
House of Representative - District 1: Saipan (6 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero | 2,357 | 8.63% |
| | Republican | Benjamin Benavente Seman | 2,233 | 8.17% |
| | Republican | Manuel Agulto Tenorio | 2,064 | 7.55% |
| | Republican | Martin Borja Ada | 2,209 | 8.08% |
| | Democratic | Florencio Bobby Pan Tenorio Deleon Guerrero | 1,979 | 7.24% |
| | Covenant | Jacinta Matagolai Kaipat | 1,891 | 6.92% |
| | Republican | Edward Tudela Salas | 1,840 | 6.74% |
| | Republican | Janet Ulloa Maratita | 1,787 | 6.54% |
| | Democratic | Ramon Sablan Basa | 1,663 | 6.08% |
| | Democratic | Antonio Muna Camacho | 1,564 | 5.72% |
| | Covenant | Jesus Camacho Muna | 1,334 | 4.88% |
| | Covenant | Rose Nelly Taman Ada-Hocog | 1,330 | 4.87% |
| | Covenant | Juan Cepeda Deleon Guerrero | 1,318 | 4.83% |
| | Covenant | Herman Pangelinan Sablan | 1,005 | 3.68% |
| | Independent | Joseph Cepeda Reyes | 966 | 3.54% |
| | Independent | Pedro Cabrera Sablan | 932 | 3.41% |
| | Democratic | Nicolas Pangelinan Blas | 850 | 3.11% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,322 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Oscar Manglona Babauta | 600 | 41.50% |
| | Covenant | Jesus San Nicolas Lizama | 463 | 32.05% |
| | Republican | Eric Benavente Atalig | 382 | 26.45% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,445 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan & Northern Islands (6 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Arnold Indalecio Palacios | 1,372 | 10.42% |
| | Independent | Ray Naraja Yumul | 1,184 | 8.99% |
| | Republican | Ramon Angailen Tebuteb | 1,154 | 8.77% |
| | Covenant | Francisco Santos Dela Cruz | 1,118 | 8.49% |
| | Independent | Stanley Estanislao Tudela McGinnis Torres | 1,013 | 7.70% |
| | Covenant | Absalon Victor, Jr. Waki | 999 | 7.59% |
| | Covenant | Melvin Larence Odoshi Faisao | 964 | 7.32% |
| | Covenant | Henry Kaipat Rabauliman | 941 | 7.14% |
| | Covenant | Howard Iglecias Macaranas | 917 | 6.96% |
| | Republican | Francisco Iwashita Aquino | 752 | 5.71% |
| | Republican | David Castro Sablan | 729 | 5.54% |
| | Republican | Carmen Cruz Cabrera | 710 | 5.39% |
| | Democratic | Remedio Laniyo Seman | 671 | 5.10% |
| | Democratic | Jesus Sablan Barcinas | 357 | 2.71% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,161 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Justo Songao Quitugua | 1,409 | 40.90% |
| | Republican | Candido Babauta Taman | 836 | 24.27% |
| | Covenant | Gonzalo Quitugua Santos | 625 | 18.14% |
| | Republican | Enrique Tamaoki Dela Cruz | 574 | 16.69% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,444 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 5: Tinian (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Edwin Palacios Aldan | 555 | 52.21% |
| | Republican | Norman Sablan Palacios | 508 | 47.79% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,063 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 6: Rota (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Crispin Mangloña Ogo | 833 | 61.10% |
| | Republican | Juan Mangloña Ayuyu | 530 | 38.90% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,363 | 100.00% |

## Mayors

Three mayoral posts were up for election across the Commonwealth. The elections resulted in the Covenant Party taking all the available positions.
Mayor - Saipan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Juan Borja Tudela | 3,786 | 35.75% |
| | Independent | Frank Guerrero Cepeda | 2,075 | 19.59% |
| | Republican | James Aldan Ada | 2,049 | 19.35% |
| | Independent | Victorino Sablan Cepeda | 1,558 | 14.71% |
| | Democratic | Ricardo Reyes Duenas | 1,123 | 10.60% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,591 | 100.00% |
Mayor - Tinian and Aguiguan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Jose Pangelinan San Nicolas | 560 | 57.76% |
| | Republican | Joaquin Gillimon Adriano | 522 | 48.24% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,082 | 100.00% |
Mayor - Rota :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Covenant | Joseph Songao Inos | 511 | 36.11% |
| | Republican | Vicente Manglona Atalig | 500 | 35.34% |
| | Independent | Victor Borja Hocog | 385 | 27.21% |
| | Independent | Julian Taisacan Taimanao | 19 | 1.34% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,415 | 100.00% |

## Municipal Council

Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Marian Deleon Guerrero Tudela | 4,416 | 17.95% |
| | Nonpartisan | Antonia Manibusan Tudela | 4,145 | 16.85% |
| | Nonpartisan | Angel Songao Hocog | 4,053 | 16.48% |
| | Nonpartisan | Gregorio Villagomez Deleon Guerrero | 3,669 | 14.92% |
| | Nonpartisan | Francisco Pangelinan Rosario | 3,507 | 14.26% |
| | Nonpartisan | Francisco Cabrera Tudela | 2,723 | 11.07% |
| | Nonpartisan | Pedro Quitugua Deleon Guerrero | 2,082 | 8.47% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,595 | 100.00% |
Municipal Council - Tinian and Aguiguan (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Francisco Q. Cruz | 571 | 17.50% |
| | Nonpartisan | Charlene Manglona Lizama | 564 | 17.28% |
| | Nonpartisan | Trenton Brian Conner | 546 | 16.73% |
| | Nonpartisan | Eugenio Henry Lizama Villagomez | 540 | 16.55% |
| | Nonpartisan | Joseph Torres San Nicolas | 532 | 16.30% |
| | Nonpartisan | Concepcion Manglona | 510 | 15.63% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,263 | 100.00% |
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Joey Anthony Quitugua | 908 | 24.86% |
| | Nonpartisan | Roy James Atalig Masga | 775 | 21.22% |
| | Nonpartisan | Mametto M. Ayuyu | 582 | 15.93% |
| | Nonpartisan | David Songao Atalig | 568 | 15.55% |
| | Nonpartisan | Manuel David Castro Atalig | 556 | 15.22% |
| | Nonpartisan | Tom Glenn A. Quitugua | 264 | 7.23% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,653 | 100.00% |

## Board of education

Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Herman Tenorio Guerrero | 6,488 | 65.17% |
| | Nonpartisan | John Berneser Joyner | 3,468 | 34.83% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,956 | 100.00% |
Board of Education - Tinian and Aguiguan (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Lucia Linda Blanco-Maratita | 585 | 54.83% |
| | Nonpartisan | Don Allen Farrell | 482 | 45.17% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,067 | 100.00% |

## Justices

Both Supreme Court Justices won retention.
| Justice | For retention | For retention | Against retention | Against retention | Total |
| Justice | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total |
| Alexandro Cruz Castro✅ | 10,144 | 80.43% | 2,468 | 19.57% | 12,612 |
| Miguel Sablan Demapan✅ | 8,704 | 68.77% | 3,953 | 31.23% | 12,657 |

## Judges

| Judge | For retention | For retention | Against retention | Against retention | Total |
| Judge | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total |
| David Arthur Wiseman✅ | 8,835 | 71.41% | 3,538 | 28.59% | 12,373 |

## Referendum

| Constitutional Convention Question | Votes | % |
| For | 7,394 | 58.92 |
| Against | 5,156 | 41.08 |
| Invalid/blank votes | | – |
| Total | 12,550 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 15,118 | |
| Source: Direct Democracy |||