# 2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election

The 2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election was held on Tuesday, 13 November 2018. Originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 6 November 2018, to correspond with the 2018 United States midterm elections, the elections were delayed by one week due to the impact and aftermath of Typhoon Yutu. Early voting was held from Tuesday, 6 November, until Monday, 12 November 2018. An estimated 18,975 voters were eligible to vote in the 2018 election.
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, six seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, all twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, four mayors, seats for the municipal council, seats for the board of education, and two judges.
97 candidates competed for 45 elected positions across the Northern Mariana Islands. High-profile races included the 2018 gubernatorial election between incumbent governor Ralph Torres, a Republican, and former governor Juan Babauta, as well as the race for non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives between incumbent Gregorio Sablan and challenger Angel Demapan.

## Gubernatorial election

Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres, the incumbent Republican governor, ran for another term alongside running mate Arnold Indalecio Palacios, and was challenged by former governor and independent Juan Nekai Babauta alongside running mate Rita Aldan Sablan. The gubernatorial contest was held on Tuesday, 13 November 2018, having been delayed one week due to recovery efforts from Typhoon Yutu. Early voting began on November 6. Incumbent Ralph Torres won re-election to his first full term.

### Candidates
#### Independents

* Juan Nekai Babauta, former governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (2002–2006), former Resident Representative of the Northern Mariana Islands (1990–2002) and former member of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate (1986–1990)
** Rita Aldan Sablan, former Education Commissioner

#### 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)
** Arnold Indalecio Palacios, 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)

### Results

Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Running mate | Results | Results |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Running mate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (incumbent) | Arnold Indalecio Palacios | 8,922 | 62.21% |
| | Independent | Juan Nekai Babauta | Rita Aldan Sablan | 5,420 | 37.79% |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 14,342 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## Delegate to the US House of Representatives

Incumbent delegate Gregorio Sablan, an independent who caucuses with the Democratic Party, ran against Angel Aldan Demapan 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 was elected for a two-year term.
Northern Mariana Islands's at-large congressional district :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (incumbent) | 9,150 | 63.77% | −36.23% |
| | Republican | Angel Aldan Demapan | 5,199 | 36.23% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,349 | 100.00% | |
| | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold | Independent hold |

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

Party strength :
| Parties | Parties | 2016 | 2018 | +/− | Strength |
| | Republican | 14 | 13 | 1 | 65.00% |
| | Independent | 6 | 7 | 1 | 35.00% |
| | Democratic | 0 | 0 | | 0.00% |
| Totals | Totals | 20 | 20 | | 100.00% |
Party strength :
| Parties | Parties | 2016 | 2018 | +/− | Strength |
| | Republican | 7 | 6 | 1 | 66.67% |
| | Independent | 2 | 3 | 1 | 33.33% |
| | Democratic | 0 | 0 | | 0.00% |
| 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 2018 elections.
Rota 1st Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Teresita Apatang Santos (incumbent) | 628 | 21.55% |
| | Republican | Victor Borja Hocog | 570 | 19.56% |
| | Republican | Felix Mundo Santos | 540 | 18.53% |
| | Independent | Albert Atalig Taitano | 442 | 15.17% |
| | Independent | Joel Gogue Charfauros | 396 | 13.59% |
| | Independent | Jovita Maratita Taimanao | 338 | 11.60% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,914 | 100.00% |
Tinian 2nd Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Francisco Quichuchu Cruz (incumbent) | 1,035 | 38.07% |
| | Republican | Jude Untalan Hofschneider (incumbent) | 918 | 33.76% |
| | Independent | Juanita Masga Mendiola | 443 | 16.29% |
| | Independent | Eric Henry Cruz San Nicolas | 323 | 11.88% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,719 | 100.00% |
Saipan 3rd Senatorial District (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Vinnie Vinson Flores Sablan | 6,076 | 28.89% |
| | Republican | Justo Songao Quitugua (incumbent) | 4,729 | 22.48% |
| | Republican | Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero | 3,941 | 18.74% |
| | Independent | Heinz Sablan Hofschneider | 3,813 | 18.13% |
| | Independent | Edith E. Deleon Guerrero | 2,473 | 11.76% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,032 | |

### 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, five of which are multi-member districts. All 20 seats were up for the 2018 elections.
House of Representative - District 1: Saipan (6 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Edwin Kenneth Propst (incumbent) | 2,639 | 13.48% |
| | Independent | Joseph Arriola Flores | 1,965 | 10.03% |
| | Republican | Joseph Leepan Tenorio Guerrero (incumbent) | 1,931 | 9.86% |
| | Republican | Janet Ulloa Maratita (incumbent) | 1,731 | 8.84% |
| | Republican | Luis John Deleion Guerrero Castro | 1,645 | 8.40% |
| | Republican | Roman Cepeda Benavente | 1,534 | 7.83% |
| | Independent | Franklin Reyes Babauta | 1,520 | 7.76% |
| | Republican | Raymond Ulloa Palacios | 1,490 | 7.61% |
| | Independent | Lino Sablan Tenorio | 1,480 | 7.56% |
| | Independent | Samatha A'Ani Birmingham-Babauta | 1,304 | 6.66% |
| | Republican | Gregorio Jr. Muna Sablan (incumbent) | 1,198 | 6.12% |
| | Democratic | Glenn Hocog Manglona | 766 | 3.91% |
| | Independent | Dorotheo Anthony Kisa | 381 | 1.95% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,584 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Christina Marie Elise Sablan | 629 | 30.37% |
| | Republican | John Paul Palacios Sablan (incumbent) | 550 | 26.56% |
| | Republican | Rafael Sablan Demapan (incumbent) | 532 | 25.69% |
| | Independent | Isabel Pangelinan Matsunaga | 360 | 17.38% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,071 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan (6 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Edmund Joseph Sablan Villagomez (incumbent) | 1,709 | 11.90% |
| | Republican | Ivan Alafanson Blanco (incumbent) | 1,661 | 11.56% |
| | Republican | Blas Jonathan "BJ" Tenorio Attao (incumbent) | 1,636 | 11.39% |
| | Republican | Ralph Naraja Yumul | 1,427 | 9.93% |
| | Republican | Francisco Santos Dela Cruz (incumbent) | 1,215 | 8.46% |
| | Republican | Jose Ilo Itibus (incumbent) | 1,200 | 8.35% |
| | Republican | Donald Cabrera Barcinas (incumbent) | 1,103 | 7.68% |
| | Independent | David Castro Sablan | 974 | 6.78% |
| | Independent | Mariano Deleon Guerrero Fajardo | 958 | 6.67% |
| | Independent | Vicente Castro Camacho | 926 | 6.45% |
| | Independent | Luis Selepeo Tilipao | 825 | 5.74% |
| | Independent | Stanley Estanislao Tudela McGinnis Torres | 733 | 5.10% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,367 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Sheila Therese Jack Babauta | 943 | 33.67% |
| | Republican | Joel Castro Camacho | 823 | |
| | Independent | Malcolm Jason Omar | 548 | 19.56% |
| | Republican | Alice Santos Igitol (incumbent) | 487 | 17.39% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,801 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 5: Saipan (2 seats) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lorenzo Iglecias Deleon Guerrero (incumbent) | 977 | 25.58% |
| | Independent | Richard Tudela Lizama | 868 | 22.73% |
| | Republican | Francisco Concepcion Aguon (incumbent) | 855 | 22.39% |
| | Independent | Juan Cepeda Deleon Guerrero | 598 | 15.66% |
| | Democratic | Peter Francis Reyes Muna | 521 | 13.64% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,819 | 100.00% |
House of Representative - District 6: Tinian (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Antonio San Nicolas Borja | 825 | 59.87% |
| | Independent | Frederick Arend Dela Cruz | 553 | 40.13% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,378 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
House of Representative - District 7: Rota (1 seat) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Donald Manalang Manglona | 765 | 48.57% |
| | Republican | Glenn Lizama Maratita (incumbent) | 631 | 40.06% |
| | Independent | Thomas Taimanao Atalig | 179 | 11.37% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,575 | 100.00% |
| | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican |

## Mayors

All four mayoral posts were up for election across the Commonwealth.
Mayor - Saipan :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Mundo Apatang (incumbent) | 8,492 | 78.60% |
| | Independent | Ramon RB Jose Camacho | 2,741 | 24.40% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,233 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Mayor - Tinian :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edwin Palacios Aldan | 879 | 62.70% |
| | Independent | Henry Hofschneider San Nicolas | 523 | 37.30% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,402 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Mayor - Rota :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Efrain Manglona Atalig (incumbent) | 576 | 35.91% |
| | Independent | Julie Marie Ogo Manglona | 487 | 30.36% |
| | Independent | Steven King Mesngon | 345 | 21.51% |
| | Independent | Crispin Masha Ayuyu | 135 | 8.42% |
| | Independent | Richard Evanglista Taisacan | 61 | 3.80% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,604 | 100.00% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
Mayor - Northern Islands :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Independent | Vincente Jr. Cruz Santos | 85 | 57.05% |
| | Republican | Diego Litulumar Kaipat | 64 | 42.95% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 149 | 100.00% |
| | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican |

## Attorney General

Attorney General (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Edward Eladio Manibusan (incumbent) | 11,366 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,366 | 100.00% |

## Municipal Council

Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Debra Lynn Tenorio Camacho | 7,073 | 28.70% |
| | Nonpartisan | Antonia Manibusan Tudela | 6,480 | 26.29% |
| | Nonpartisan | Ana Demapan Castro | 5,926 | 24.04% |
| | Nonpartisan | Thomas Sablan Muna | 5,167 | 20.96% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,646 | 100.00% |
Municipal Council - Tinian & Aguiguan (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Esteven Jr. San Nicolas King | 853 | 20.90% |
| | Nonpartisan | Thomasa Rita Palacios Mendiola | 840 | 20.58% |
| | Nonpartisan | Patrick Aquiningoc Manglona | 807 | 19.77% |
| | Nonpartisan | Nikita Palacios Mendiola | 622 | 15.24% |
| | Nonpartisan | Ervin Jon Jr. Cepeda Cruz | 501 | 12.27% |
| | Nonpartisan | Joseph Jr. Agulto Borja | 459 | 11.24% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,082 | 100.00% |
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Lucia Songsong Manglona | 957 | 24.37% |
| | Nonpartisan | Anthony Wayne Barcinas (incumbent) | 840 | 21.39% |
| | Nonpartisan | Simeon Evangelista Taisacan | 773 | 19.68% |
| | Nonpartisan | Alexander Apatang | 760 | 19.35% |
| | Nonpartisan | George Ogo Hocog | 597 | 15.20% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,927 | 100.00% |

## Board of Education

Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Andrew Lujan Orsini | 5,222 | 51.15% |
| | Nonpartisan | James Michael Rayphand | 4,988 | 48.85% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,210 | 100.00% |

## Judges

| Judge | For retention | For retention | Against retention | Against retention | Total |
| Judge | Votes | % | Votes | % | Total |
| Alexander C. Castro | 11,644 | 86.69% | 1,788 | 13.31% | 13,432 |
| Teresa K. Tenorio | 11,188 | 84.55% | 2,044 | 15.45% | 13,232 |