2022 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election

See also: 2022 United States gubernatorial elections
2022 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election
← 2018 November 8, 2022 (first round)
November 25, 2022 (runoff)		 2026 →
 
Nominee Arnold Palacios Ralph Torres
Party Independent Republican
Running mate David Apatang Vinnie Sablan
Popular vote 7,394 6,263
Percentage 54.14% 45.86%
Results by voting district:
Arnold Palacios:      50–55%      60–65%      65–70%
Ralph Torres:      50–55%      65–70%      70–75%
Governor before election

Ralph Torres
Republican

Elected Governor

Arnold Palacios
Independent

The 2022 Northern Mariana gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands and the lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands to a four-year term in office. Because no candidate received 50% of the vote in the general election, the two highest-placing candidates advanced to a runoff election on November 25, 2022.[1]

Incumbent Republican governor Ralph Torres ran for re-election to a second full term in office with territorial senator Vinnie Sablan as his running mate.[2] Lieutenant Governor Arnold Palacios, a career Republican, also contested the seat, running as an independent with Saipan mayor David Apatang as his running mate.[3] Democratic nominee Tina Sablan, a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, is the first woman to be nominated for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. She chose fellow territorial representative Leila Staffler as her running mate.[4]

In the general election, Torres came in first with 38.83% of the vote, followed by Palacios at 33.15% and Sablan at 28.01%. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff between Torres and Palacios was held on November 25, 2022.[5][6][7] Sablan and Staffler endorsed Palacios in the runoff, and Palacios and Apatang signed a "unity pledge" with them promising action on several policy issues, including health care, labor, and infrastructure.[8][9]

Palacios and Apatang won the runoff election with 54.14% of the vote to 45.86% for Torres and Sablan.[10] 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.[a]

  1. ^ De Guzman, Andrew (2009-07-29). "Fitial approves runoff law". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  2. ^ Limol, K-Andrea Evarose (August 16, 2021). "Ralph & Vinnie in 2022". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  3. ^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (2021-10-22). "Palacios, Apatang vow to rebuild trust in government". Marianas Variety News & Views. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  4. ^ Manglona, Thomas (2021-11-15). "Tina Sablan says it's time for change in the CNMI". KUAM News. Dededo, Guam. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  5. ^ "2022 General Election Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  6. ^ De La Torre, Ferdie (2022-11-09). "Torres-Sablan wins; to face Palacios-Apatang in runoff". Saipan Tribune. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  7. ^ De La Torre, Ferdie (2022-11-11). "BREAKING NEWS: Runoff election on Nov. 25". Saipan Tribune. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  8. ^ Sablan, Tina (2022-11-10). "Opinion: The Movement for Good Governance Must Continue". Saipan Tribune. Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  9. ^ Manglona, Thomas (2022-11-16). "CNMI independents & democrats sign Unity Pledge". KUAM News. Dededo, Guam. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  10. ^ "Palacios-Apatang wins gubernatorial runoff".


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