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2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election

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2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election

5 November 2005
Gubernatorial election
← 2001
2009 →
 
Candidate Benigno Fitial Heinz Hofschneider
Party Covenant Independent
Running mate Timothy Villagomez David M. Apatang
Popular vote 3,766 3,682
Percentage 27.95% 27.33%

 
Candidate Juan Babauta Froilan Tenorio
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Diego Benavente Antonio Aguon Santos
Popular vote 3,584 2,440
Percentage 26.60% 18.11%

Governor before election

Juan Babauta
Republican

Elected Governor

Benigno Fitial
Covenant

Senate election
← 2003
2007 →

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

3
Republican

3
Democratic

2
Independents

1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
House election
← 2003
2007 →

All 18 seats in the House of Representatives
10 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats
Covenant

7
Republican

7
Democratic

2
Independents

2
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Mayoral elections
← 2001
2009 →

3 Mayors
Party Seats
Covenant

3
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The 2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election was held on Saturday, 5 November 2005. 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 eighteen seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 3 mayors, seats for the municipal council, seats for the board of education, 2 justices, and a judges. There was also a referendum on calling a Constitutional Convention,[1] which was approved by voters.[2]

The gubernatorial election was the closest in the commonwealth's history, and resulted in the election of Benigno Fitial, narrowly defeating independent Heinz Hofschneider by 84 votes and incumbent Republican Governor Juan N. Babauta by an additional 98 votes. This would be the last year that the gubernatorial race would work in a first-past-the-post voting system as it would be reformed to work under a two-round system for the 2009 general elections.[3] This election made commonwealth history by electing both the territory's first Carolinian governor and its first third party governor.[4]

Background

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The referendum on the Constitutional Convention was called in order to comply with Chapter XVIII, article 2 of the constitution, which required a referendum to be held at least every ten years on convening such a convention.[2] A referendum had been due in 2003 as the last referendum had been in 1993, but the legislature had failed to organise it.[2]

15,118 people registered with the Election Commission to vote.[5]

Gubernatorial election

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Candidates

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Four candidates ran for governor, each with a running mate:

Covenant Party

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Democratic Party

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  • Froilan Cruz "Lang" Tenorio of the Democratic Party, former Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (1994–1998).[6]
    • Antonio Aguon Santos, educator and teacher.[6]

Independent

[edit]

Republican Party

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Results

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Northern Mariana Islands Gubernatorial Election[7]
Party Candidate Running mate Results
Votes %
Covenant Benigno Repeki Fitial Timothy Pangelinan Villagomez 3,766 27.95%
Independent Heinz Sablan Hofschneider David Mundo Apatang 3,682 27.33%
Republican Juan Nekai Babauta (incumbent) Diego Tenorio Benavente (incumbent) 3,584 26.60%
Democratic Froilan Cruz "Lang" Tenorio Antonio Aguon Santos 2,440 18.11%
Total 13,472 100%
Covenant gain from Republican

Resident Representative to U.S. Congress

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This was the last election to have Resident Representative to U.S. Congress. In 2008, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, signed into law by President George W. Bush, replaced the position of resident representative with a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives. The new position received the power to serve in congressional committees, to introduce bills, and to vote on proposed legislation in committee, but still had limited powers on the House floor, lacking the right to vote on legislation on the House floor.

CNMI Resident Representative to U.S. Congress[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pedro Agulto Tenorio 8,308 64.63%
Covenant Juan Sablan Demapan 4,547 35.37%
Total votes 12,855 100.00%
Republican hold

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature

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Results summary

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Parties House Election Results Seat Change Party Strength
2003 2005 +/− Strength
  Republican 7 7 Steady 38.89%
  Covenant 9 7 2 Decrease 38.89%
  Independent 1 2 1 Increase 11.11%
  Democratic 1 2 1 Increase 11.11%
Totals 18 18 Steady 100.00%
Parties Senate Election Results Seat Change Party Strength
2003 2005 +/− Strength
  Covenant 3 3 Steady 33.33%
  Republican 2 3 1 Increase 33.33%
  Democratic 2 2 Steady 22.22%
  Independent 2 1 1 Decrease 11.11%
Totals 9 9 Steady 100.00%

Senate

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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. Six seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate were up for the 2005 election.

Rota 1st Senatorial District (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Covenant Felix Taisacan Mendiola 634 23.62%
Republican Paterno Songao Hocog 605 22.54%
Covenant Jovita Maratita Taimanao 599 22.32%
Republican Diego Maratita Songao 550 20.49%
Democratic Eusebio Atalig Hocog 201 7.49%
Independent Nobert Hocog Mendiola 95 3.54%
Total votes 2,684 100.00%
Tinian 2nd Senatorial District (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Covenant Joseph Masga Mendiola 583 26.77%
Republican Jude Untalan Hofschneider 550 25.25%
Republican Ramon Muna Dela Cruz 533 24.47%
Covenant Joaquin Hoashi Borja 512 23.51%
Total votes 2,178 100.00%
Saipan & Northern Islands 3rd Senatorial District (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Maria Frica Tudela Pangelinan 4,894 24.43%
Independent Pete Pangelinan Reyes 4,378 21.85%
Covenant Claudio Kotomar Norita 4,270 21.31%
Republican Thomas Pangelinan Villagomez 2,805 14.00%
Republican Andrew Sablan Salas 2,717 13.56%
Democratic Joaquin Terlaje Quitugua 970 4.84%
Total votes 20,034 100.00%

House of Representatives

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The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The house has six districts, several of which are Multi-member districts.[8] All 18 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives were contested in the 2005 election. This was the last election to have 18 members.

House of Representative - District 1: Saipan (6 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero 2,357 8.63%
Republican Benjamin Benavente Seman 2,233 8.17%
Republican Manuel Agulto Tenorio 2,064 7.55%
Republican Martin Borja Ada 2,209 8.08%
Democratic Florencio Bobby Pan Tenorio Deleon Guerrero 1,979 7.24%
Covenant Jacinta Matagolai Kaipat 1,891 6.92%
Republican Edward Tudela Salas 1,840 6.74%
Republican Janet Ulloa Maratita 1,787 6.54%
Democratic Ramon Sablan Basa 1,663 6.08%
Democratic Antonio Muna Camacho 1,564 5.72%
Covenant Jesus Camacho Muna 1,334 4.88%
Covenant Rose Nelly Taman Ada-Hocog 1,330 4.87%
Covenant Juan Cepeda Deleon Guerrero 1,318 4.83%
Covenant Herman Pangelinan Sablan 1,005 3.68%
Independent Joseph Cepeda Reyes 966 3.54%
Independent Pedro Cabrera Sablan 932 3.41%
Democratic Nicolas Pangelinan Blas 850 3.11%
Total votes 27,322 100.00%
House of Representative - District 2: Saipan (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Covenant Oscar Manglona Babauta 600 41.50%
Covenant Jesus San Nicolas Lizama 463 32.05%
Republican Eric Benavente Atalig 382 26.45%
Total votes 1,445 100.00%
House of Representative - District 3: Saipan & Northern Islands (6 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arnold Indalecio Palacios 1,372 10.42%
Independent Ray Naraja Yumul 1,184 8.99%
Republican Ramon Angailen Tebuteb 1,154 8.77%
Covenant Francisco Santos Dela Cruz 1,118 8.49%
Independent Stanley Estanislao Tudela McGinnis Torres 1,013 7.70%
Covenant Absalon Victor, Jr. Waki 999 7.59%
Covenant Melvin Larence Odoshi Faisao 964 7.32%
Covenant Henry Kaipat Rabauliman 941 7.14%
Covenant Howard Iglecias Macaranas 917 6.96%
Republican Francisco Iwashita Aquino 752 5.71%
Republican David Castro Sablan 729 5.54%
Republican Carmen Cruz Cabrera 710 5.39%
Democratic Remedio Laniyo Seman 671 5.10%
Democratic Jesus Sablan Barcinas 357 2.71%
Total votes 13,161 100.00%
House of Representative - District 4: Saipan (2 seats)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Justo Songao Quitugua 1,409 40.90%
Republican Candido Babauta Taman 836 24.27%
Covenant Gonzalo Quitugua Santos 625 18.14%
Republican Enrique Tamaoki Dela Cruz 574 16.69%
Total votes 3,444 100.00%
House of Representative - District 5: Tinian (1 seat)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Covenant Edwin Palacios Aldan 555 52.21%
Republican Norman Sablan Palacios 508 47.79%
Total votes 1,063 100.00%
House of Representative - District 6: Rota (1 seat)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Covenant Crispin Mangloña Ogo 833 61.10%
Republican Juan Mangloña Ayuyu 530 38.90%
Total votes 1,363 100.00%

Mayors

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Three mayoral posts were up for election across the Commonwealth. The elections resulted in the Covenant Party taking all the available positions.

Mayor - Saipan[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Covenant Juan Borja Tudela 3,786 35.75%
Independent Frank Guerrero Cepeda 2,075 19.59%
Republican James Aldan Ada 2,049 19.35%
Independent Victorino Sablan Cepeda 1,558 14.71%
Democratic Ricardo Reyes Duenas 1,123 10.60%
Total votes 10,591 100.00%
Mayor - Tinian and Aguiguan[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Covenant Jose Pangelinan San Nicolas 560 57.76%
Republican Joaquin Gillimon Adriano 522 48.24%
Total votes 1,082 100.00%
Mayor - Rota[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Covenant Joseph Songao Inos 511 36.11%
Republican Vicente Manglona Atalig 500 35.34%
Independent Victor Borja Hocog 385 27.21%
Independent Julian Taisacan Taimanao 19 1.34%
Total votes 1,415 100.00%

Municipal Council

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Municipal Council - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Marian Deleon Guerrero Tudela 4,416 17.95%
Nonpartisan Antonia Manibusan Tudela 4,145 16.85%
Nonpartisan Angel Songao Hocog 4,053 16.48%
Nonpartisan Gregorio Villagomez Deleon Guerrero 3,669 14.92%
Nonpartisan Francisco Pangelinan Rosario 3,507 14.26%
Nonpartisan Francisco Cabrera Tudela 2,723 11.07%
Nonpartisan Pedro Quitugua Deleon Guerrero 2,082 8.47%
Total votes 24,595 100.00%
Municipal Council - Tinian and Aguiguan (non-partisan)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Francisco Q. Cruz 571 17.50%
Nonpartisan Charlene Manglona Lizama 564 17.28%
Nonpartisan Trenton Brian Conner 546 16.73%
Nonpartisan Eugenio Henry Lizama Villagomez 540 16.55%
Nonpartisan Joseph Torres San Nicolas 532 16.30%
Nonpartisan Concepcion Manglona 510 15.63%
Total votes 3,263 100.00%
Municipal Council - Rota (non-partisan)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Joey Anthony Quitugua 908 24.86%
Nonpartisan Roy James Atalig Masga 775 21.22%
Nonpartisan Mametto M. Ayuyu 582 15.93%
Nonpartisan David Songao Atalig 568 15.55%
Nonpartisan Manuel David Castro Atalig 556 15.22%
Nonpartisan Tom Glenn A. Quitugua 264 7.23%
Total votes 3,653 100.00%

Board of education

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Board of Education - Saipan & Northern Islands (non-partisan)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Herman Tenorio Guerrero 6,488 65.17%
Nonpartisan John Berneser Joyner 3,468 34.83%
Total votes 9,956 100.00%
Board of Education - Tinian and Aguiguan (non-partisan)[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Lucia Linda Blanco-Maratita 585 54.83%
Nonpartisan Don Allen Farrell 482 45.17%
Total votes 1,067 100.00%

Justices

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Both Supreme Court Justices won retention.

Justice For retention Against retention Total
Votes % Votes %
Alexandro Cruz Castro 10,144 80.43% 2,468 19.57% 12,612
Miguel Sablan Demapan 8,704 68.77% 3,953 31.23% 12,657

Judges

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Judge For retention Against retention Total
Votes % Votes %
David Arthur Wiseman✅ 8,835 71.41% 3,538 28.59% 12,373

Referendum

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Constitutional Convention Question Votes %
For 7,394 58.92
Against 5,156 41.08
Invalid/blank votes
Total 12,550 100
Registered voters/turnout 15,118
Source: Direct Democracy

References

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  1. ^ "Babauta wants 'concon' question in '05 polls". Saipan Tribune. 2004-09-13. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  2. ^ a b c Northern Mariana Islands, 5 November 2005: Election of a Constitutional Convention Direct Democracy (in German)
  3. ^ Eugenio, Haidee (23 November 2009). "CNMI holds first runoff election". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  4. ^ Staff, Variety News (2012-09-14). "Variations: The price of hubris". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  5. ^ Casas, Gemma Q. (2009-10-13). "Registered voters up by 15%". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 2009-10-12.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hernandez, Criselda B. (2005). "Politics: 4-Way Gubernatorial Election Heats Up". Islands Business. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "2005 Election Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011.
  8. ^ "2005 Election Results". Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
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