2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election

2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election

Gubernatorial election

← 2014 13 November 2018 2022 →

Nominee Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres Juan Nekai Babauta Party Republican Independent Running mate Arnold Indalecio Palacios Rita Aldan Sablan Popular vote 8,922 5,420 Percentage 62.21% 37.79%

Results by voting district: Ralph Torres:      55–60%      60–65%      65–70%      70–75%

Governor before election Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres Republican Elected Governor Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres Republican

Delegate election

← 2016 13 November 2018 2020 →

Nominee Gregorio Sablan Angel Demapan Party Independent Republican Popular vote 9,150 5,199 Percentage 63.77% 36.23%

Results by voting district: Gregorio Sablan:      60–65%      65–70% Angel Demapan:      50–55%

Delegate before election Gregorio Sablan Independent Elected Delegate Gregorio Sablan Independent

Senate election

← 2016 2020 →

6 of the 9 seats in the Senate 5 seats needed for a majority

Party Seats Republican 6 Independents 3 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

House election

← 2016 2020 →

All 20 seats in the House of Representatives 11 seats needed for a majority

Party Seats Republican 13 Independents 7 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Mayoral elections

← 2014 2022 →

4 Mayors

Party Seats Republican 3 Independents 1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands
Constitution and law United States Constitution Northern Mariana Islands Constitution Law of the Northern Mariana Islands
Executive Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands Arnold Palacios (Independent) Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands David M. Apatang (Independent)
Legislature Northern Mariana Islands Senate President Edith DeLeon Guerrero (Democratic) Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Independent)
Elections Northern Mariana Islands general elections: 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024 U.S. Congressional elections: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024
Political parties Political party strength Democratic Party Republican Party
Federal delegation United States House Delegate Gregorio Sablan (Democratic)
Politics of the United States Politics portal
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The 2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election were 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.^[1] Early voting was held from Tuesday, 6 November, until Monday, 12 November 2018.^[2] An estimated 18,975 voters were eligible to vote in the 2018 election.^[2]

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, 6 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, all twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 4 mayors, seats for the municipal council, seats for the board of education, and 2 judges.

Ninety-seven candidates competed for 45 elected positions across the Northern Mariana Islands.^[3] 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.^[3][4][5]

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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.^[1] Incumbent Ralph Torres won re-election to his first full term.^[5]

• 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).^[6][7]
  • Rita Aldan Sablan, former Education Commissioner.

• 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).

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.^[5] The Northern Mariana Islands' non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives was elected for a two-year term.

Parties		House Election Results		Seat Change	Party Strength
		2016	2018	+/−	Strength
	Republican	14	13	1	65.00%
	Independent	6	7	1	35.00%
	Democratic	0	0		0.00%
Totals		20	20		100.00%

Parties		Senate Election Results		Seat Change	Party Strength
		2016	2018	+/−	Strength
	Republican	7	6	1	66.67%
	Independent	2	3	1	33.33%
	Democratic	0	0		0.00%
Totals		9	9		100.00%

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.

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. All twenty seats were up for 2018 election.

All four mayoral posts were up for election across the Commonwealth.