# 2020 Northern Mariana Islands general election

The 2020 Northern Mariana Islands general election were held on Tuesday, 3 November 2020, corresponding with the 2020 United States general elections. Voters in the Northern Mariana Islands voted for 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, seats for the board of education, 1 justice, and 2 judges.
This election oversaw the return of the CNMI Democratic Party as a major force in CNMI politics for the first time in a decade. 2020 also saw the first time a party was able to challenge the CNMI Republican Party since the Covenant Party was dissolved in 2013. Four incumbent representatives that were elected as independents announced that they would run for re-election as Democrats while another independent aligns with the party. Prior to the 2020 election, the Democrats had not won a legislative seat since their last wins in the 2007 general elections. The result of the 2020 general election was that the CNMI had experienced a blue wave, with the Democrats controlling nearly half the house and adding a member to the senate. The Republicans lost the trifecta it held since the 2016 Northern Mariana Islands general election and the single-party system it held since 2013. Voter turnout was at 72.05%, lower than the previous general elections election years of 2018, which was 77.4%, and 2014, which was 76.7%.

## Delegate to the US House of Representatives

Incumbent Delegate Gregorio Sablan, an independent who caucuses with the Democratic Party, ran uncontested for re-election. 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 are elected for a two-year term.
Northern Mariana Islands's at-large congressional district :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (incumbent) | 11,449 | 100.00% | +36.23% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,449 | 100.00% | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

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

Party Strength :
| Parties | Parties | 2018 | 2020 | +/− | Strength |
| | Republican | 13 | 9 | 4 | 45.00% |
| | Democratic | 0 | 8 | 8 | 40.00% |
| | Independent | 7 | 3 | 4 | 15.00% |
| Totals | Totals | 20 | 20 | | 100.00% |
Party Strength :
| Parties | Parties | 2018 | 2020 | +/− | Strength |
| | Republican | 6 | 5 | 1 | 55.56% |
| | Independent | 3 | 3 | | 33.33% |
| | Democratic | 0 | 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. Each district had one seat open for the 2020 elections.
Rota 1st Senatorial District (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Paul Atalig Manglona (incumbent) | 764 | 53.43% |
| | Republican | Dennis James Camacho Mendiola | 666 | 46.57% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,430 | 100.00% |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |
Tinian 2nd Senatorial District (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Karl Rosario King-Nabors | 738 | 58.52% |
| | Democratic | Jose Pangelinan Cruz | 523 | 41.48% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,261 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Saipan 3rd Senatorial District (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edith E. Deleon Guerrero | 5,176 | 51.23% |
| | Republican | Sixto Kaipat Igisomar (incumbent) | 4,928 | 48.77% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,104 | 100.00% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 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 district. In 2019, a four-way race took place for a single seat in district 3 after its became vacant when Republican Rep. Francisco Dela Cruz died in January 2019. Republican Party candidate Marco Taisakan Peter was the victor. All twenty seats were up for the 2020 elections.
House of Representative - District 1: Saipan (6 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edwin Kenneth Propst (incumbent) | 1,891 | 10.26% |
| | Democratic | Celina Roberto Babauta | 1,743 | 9.46% |
| | Independent | Joseph Arriola Flores (incumbent) | 1,594 | 8.65% |
| | Republican | Joseph Leepan Tenorio Guerrero (incumbent) | 1,560 | 8.46% |
| | Republican | Roy Christopher Aldan Ada | 1,530 | 8.30% |
| | Republican | Angel Aldan Demapan | 1,455 | 7.89% |
| | Republican | Roman Cepeda Benavente (incumbent) | 1,298 | 7.04% |
| | Independent | Vincent Raymond Seman Aldan | 1,266 | 6.87% |
| | Democratic | Peter Francis Reyes Muna | 1,247 | 6.77% |
| | Democratic | Antonio Blas Cabrera | 1,180 | 6.40% |
| | Independent | Luis John Deleon Guerrero Castro (incumbent) | 1,120 | 6.08% |
| | Democratic | Benusto Piteg | 1,036 | 5.62% |
| | Republican | Randall Dexter Masga Pangelinan | 820 | 4.45% |
| | Independent | Glenn Hocog Manglona | 693 | 3.76% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,433 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Christina Marie Elise Sablan (incumbent) | 587 | 29.93% |
| | Republican | John Paul Palacios Sablan (incumbent) | 534 | 27.23% |
| | Republican | Daniel Iwashita Aquino Jr. | 423 | 21.57% |
| | Democratic | Luella Ichihara Marciano | 417 | 21.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,961 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan (6 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Edmund Joseph Sablan Villagomez (incumbent) | 1,622 | 12.76% |
| | Republican | Blas Jonathan "BJ" Tenorio Attao (incumbent) | 1,546 | 12.17% |
| | Republican | Ivan Alafanson Blanco (incumbent) | 1,457 | 11.47% |
| | Democratic | Denita Kaipat Yangetmai | 1,287 | 10.13% |
| | Democratic | Vincente Castro Camacho | 1,268 | 9.98% |
| | Republican | Ralph Naraja Yumul (incumbent) | 1,240 | 9.76% |
| | Democratic | Corina Lorraine Magofna | 1,199 | 9.44% |
| | Republican | Marco Taisakan Peter (incumbent) | 1,090 | 8.58% |
| | Democratic | Alfredo Litulumar Saures | 1,051 | 8.27% |
| | Republican | Jose Ilo Itibus (incumbent) | 947 | 7.45% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,707 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Joel Castro Camacho (incumbent) | 835 | 32.31% |
| | Democratic | Sheila Therese Jack Babauta (incumbent) | 731 | 28.29% |
| | Republican | Cecilia Remedio Taitano | 616 | 23.84% |
| | Democratic | Jenita Babauta Castro | 402 | 15.56% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,584 | |
House of Representative - District 5: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Leila Haveia Fleming Clark Staffler | 1,330 | 36.77% |
| | Democratic | Richard Tudela Lizama | 954 | 26.38% |
| | Republican | Lorenzo Iglecias Deleon Guerrero (incumbent) | 637 | 17.61% |
| | Republican | Ramon Sablan Basa | 485 | 13.41% |
| | Independent | Joseph Muna Mendiola | 211 | 5.83% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,617 | |
House of Representative - District 6: Tinian (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Patrick Hofschneider San Nicolas | 647 | 51.72% |
| | Democratic | Frederick Arend Dela Cruz | 604 | 48.28% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,251 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
House of Representative - District 7 Rota: (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Donald Manalang Manglona (incumbent) | 916 | 64.10% |
| | Republican | Barry Cuthbert Toves | 513 | 35.90% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,429 | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

## Municipal Council

Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Antonia Manibusan Tudela | 6,332 | 51.02% |
| | Nonpartisan | Ana Demapan Castro (incumbent) | 6,080 | 48.98% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,412 | |
Municipal Council - Tinian & Aguiguan (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Joseph Romaldo Evangelista Santos | 856 | 24.78% |
| | Nonpartisan | Michael Nap King Aldan | 795 | 23.01% |
| | Nonpartisan | Thomasa Rita Palacios Mendiola (incumbent) | 658 | 19.04% |
| | Nonpartisan | Juanita Masga Mendiola | 575 | 16.64% |
| | Nonpartisan | Joseph Manglona Manglona | 571 | 16.53% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,455 | |
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Willian Apatang Taitano | 799 | 21.52% |
| | Nonpartisan | Jonovan Hocog Lizama | 765 | 20.60% |
| | Nonpartisan | Jim Michael Atalig | 647 | 17.43% |
| | Nonpartisan | Michael Cain Sikebert | 612 | 16.48% |
| | Nonpartisan | Lorita Mesngon Mangolna | 590 | 15.89% |
| | Nonpartisan | Abraham Manglona Ogo | 300 | 8.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,713 | |

## Board of education

Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Maisie Bermudes Tenorio | 7,248 | 48.50% |
| | Nonpartisan | Gregory Pat Borja | 4,860 | 32.52% |
| | Nonpartisan | Stephen Carl Woodruff | 2,837 | 18.98% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,945 | |
Board of Education - Rota (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Herman Manglona Atalig (incumbent) | 985 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 985 | |

## Justices

| Justice | For retention | For retention | Against retention | Against retention | Total |
| Justice | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total |
| Robert Camacho Naraja | 9,836 | 81.28% | 2,266 | 18.72% | 12,102 |

## Judges

| Judge | For retention | For retention | Against retention | Against retention | Total |
| Judge | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total |
| Robert Camacho Naraja | 10,236 | 84.48% | 1,881 | 15.52% | 12,117 |
| Kenneth Lewis Govendo | 9,592 | 79.96% | 2,404 | 20.04% | 11,996 |