2014 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election

The 2014 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a run-off election was held 14 days later. Incumbent Republican Governor Eloy Songao Inos and running mate Ralph DLG. Torres were elected.[1] Inos, who served as lieutenant governor from 2009 to 2013, first became Governor following the resignation of his predecessor, Benigno Fitial.[2]

2014 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election

November 4 and November 18, 2014

Nominee Eloy Songao Inos Heinz Hofschneider Party Republican Independent Running mate Ralph Torres Ray Naraja Yumul Popular vote 6,342 general[1] 6,547 runoff 4,501 general 4,948 runoff Percentage 45.96% general 56.96% runoff 32.62% general 43.04% runoff

Governor before election Eloy Inos Republican Elected Governor Eloy Inos Republican

Background

The previous gubernatorial election was held in 2009 for a 5-year term,[3] in order to move all elections to even years. Covenant Party candidate Benigno Fitial won re-election. 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.[2][4] Inos thus succeeded him governor. In September 2013, Inos, then a member of the Covenant Party, took steps to merge the Covenant Party with the territorial Republican Party, and ran for re-election as a Republican.[5]

Candidates

• Juan Babauta, former Governor (2002–2006), running as an independent[6]
  • Running mate: Juan Torres, former senator
• Edward "Tofila" Masga Deleon Guerrero, former Ports Authority executive director, running as a Democrat[7]
  • Running mate: Danny Quitugua, former representative
• Heinz Sablan Hofschneider, 2009 candidate and Speaker of the House, running as an independent[6]
  • Running mate: Ray Naraja Yumul, senator (I-Saipan)
• Eloy Songao Inos, incumbent governor, running as a Republican[5]
  • Running mate: Senate President Ralph DLG. Torres (R-Saipan)

Results

 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

References

1. "Commonwealth Election Commission - Election 2014 Results". Archived from the original on November 30, 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
2. Erediano, Emmanuel T (20 February 2013). "New governor, lt. governor". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
3. Eugenio, Haidee V. (2009-11-23). "CNMI holds first runoff election". Saipan Tribune.
4. Celock, John (2 November 2013). "Benigno Fitial, Northern Mariana Islands Governor, Impeached By House In Massage Scandal". Huffington Post. 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 (April 8, 2014). "Independent bid for Babauta, Torres". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
7. Eugenio, Haidee (March 14, 2014). "Dems pick Deleon Guerrero-Quitugua". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 4 May 2015.