2014 Northern Mariana Islands general election

General elections were held in the Northern Mariana Islands on November 4, 2014. Voters elected the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General, the Delegate to the US Congress, the Senate, the House of Representatives, mayors, municipal councils and the Board of Education. Additionally, a referendum involving changes to the constitution was held.[1]

Northern Mariana Islands
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Northern Mariana Islands

Incumbent Republican Governor Eloy Inos was re-elected, facing two independent challengers and one Democratic challenger. The next lieutenant governor was elected on the same ticket, with incumbent Jude Hofschneider not running for re-election. As no candidate got a majority, a runoff was held on November 21.[2]

Background

The previous election was held in 2009 for a 5-year term,[3] in order to move all elections to even years. Covenant Party candidate Benigno Repeki Fitial was re-elected; his running mate Eloy Inos was elected to his first full term as lieutenant governor. Fitial resigned as governor in February 2013 in the face of impeachment hearings.[4] Inos thus became governor. In September 2013, he took steps to merge the Covenant Party with the territorial Republican Party, and ran for re-election as a Republican.[5]

Gubernatorial election
Main article: 2014 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election

Eloy Inos, the incumbent republican governor was re-elected.[2] He was challenged by the speaker of the house and 2009 candidate, Heinz Sablan Hofschneider, former governor Juan Babauta (both running as independents), and democratic candidate Edward Masga Deleon Guerrero, former ports authority executive director.[6]

 Summary of the 4 and 21 November 2014 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election results
Candidate Running mate Party First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
Eloy Songao Inos Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres Republican 6,342 45.96% 6,547 56.96%
Heinz Sablan Hofschneider Ray Naraja Yumul Independent 4,501 32.62% 4,948 43.04%
Juan Nekai Babauta Juan Sablan Torres Independent 2,414 17.50%
Edward Masga Deleon Guerrero Daniel Ogo Quitugua Democratic 541 3.92%
Total 13,798 100% 11,495 100%
Source: Commonwealth Election Commission

Delegate to the US House of Representatives
Main article: United States House of Representatives election in the Northern Mariana Islands, 2014

Incumbent Delegate Gregorio Sablan was re-elected. He caucuses with the Democratic Party, but ran as an Independent. Sablan was challenged by democrat Andrew Salas, a former territorial representative and Commerce Secretary.[2]

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature

Saipan Senate
Saipan 3rd Senatorial District
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Justo Songao Quitugua 4,542
Republican Arnold I. Palacios 3,774
Republican Oscar Manglona Babauta 3,684
Independent Janet Ulloa Maratita 3,244
Independent Iluminanda Reyes Bermudes 2,172
Democratic Jesus Ilo Taisague 1,345
Independent Stephen Carl Woodruff 798
Write-in candidates
Turnout 19,599

House of Representative
House of Representative - District 1 (Saipan)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Angel Aldan Demapan 1,935
Independent Edwin Kenneth Propst 1,585
Republican Joseph "Leepan" Tenorio Guerrero 1,537
Independent Roman Cepeda Benavente 1,508
Independent Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero 1,424
Independent Antonio Pangelinan Sablan 1,354
Republican Gregorio Muna Sablan, Jr. 1,271
Independent Richard Benavente Seman 1,225
Independent Joseph Arriola Flores 1,202
Independent Mariano Taitano 1,129
Independent Rose Nelly Taman Ada-Hocog 1,025
Independent John Magofna Pialur 1,025
Democratic Frankie Fernando Angel 667
Democratic Vincent Go Cabrera 422
Independent Benjamin Matagolai Cepeda 381
Democratic Calistro Iguel Reyes 372
Democratic Nelson Ayuyu Rios 313
Turnout 18,375
Independent gain from Republican

Attorney General
Attorney General (non-partisan)[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Independent Edward Eladio Manibusan 8,599 64.99%
Independent Michael Norita Evangelista 4,672 31.31%
Total votes 13,231 100%

Referendum

The general elections included three referendum questions, two of which involved legislative initiative amendments to the constitution. The constitutional amendments were to:

  • article XV, subsection 1(e) of the constitution to increase the minimum proportion of the Commonwealth general-revenue budget spent on primary and secondary education from 15% to 25%. H.L.I. 18-12.[7]
  • amend article XII, section 4 to redefine "persons of Northern Mariana Islands descent" as being someone who has "some degree of Northern Mariana Chamorro or Northern Mariana Carolinan blood", as opposed to the current requirement of at least 25% bloodline. H.L.I. 18-1.[1]

An amendment proposed by legislative initiative shall become effective if approved by a majority of the votes cast. N.M.I. Const. art. XVIII, § 5(b).

The other referendum asked voters whether a Constitutional Convention should be convened to propose amendments to the constitution. H.B. 18-5.[1]

The Constitutional Convention proposal would have required two-thirds of the votes cast to be approved. N.M.I. Const. art. XVIII, § 2(c).

Results
Question For Against Invalid/
blank		 Total
votes		 Registered
voters		 Turnout
Votes % Votes %
Calling a Constitutional Convention (required two-thirds of votes cast)7,85966.014,04633.991,89313,79817,98676.72
Constitutional amendment on education spending (required majority of votes cast)8,08266.564,06033.441,656
Constitutional amendment on the definition of descent (required majority of votes cast)6,17752.345,62447.661,997
Source: CEC

References
  1. "Commonwealth Election Commission - Legislative Initiatives". Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "Commonwealth Election Commission - Election 2014 Results". Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. Eugenio, Haidee V. (2009-11-23). "CNMI holds first runoff election". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-01-12.
  4. Erediano, Emmanuel T (20 February 2013). "New governor, lt. governor". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  5. Eugenio, Haidee (September 19, 2013). "Inos, Covenant Party members rejoining GOP". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014.
  6. Eugenio, Haidee (March 14, 2014). "Dems pick Deleon Guerrero-Quitugua". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  7. House Legislative Initiative 18-12 Vote CNMI
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