2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election

The 2018 Northern Mariana Islands general election was 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. Early voting was held from Tuesday, 6 November, until Monday, 12 November 2018. An estimated 18,975 voters were eligible to vote in the 2018 election.

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, six seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, all twenty seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, four mayors, seats for the municipal council, seats for the board of education, and two judges.

97 candidates competed for 45 elected positions across the Northern Mariana Islands. 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.

Background

Gubernatorial election

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. Incumbent Ralph Torres won re-election to his first full term.

Candidates

Independents

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)
- Rita Aldan Sablan, former Education Commissioner

Republican Party

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)

Results

Delegate to the US House of Representatives

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

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature

Results summary

Senate

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.

House of Representatives

The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The house has seven districts, five of which are multi-member districts. All 20 seats were up for the 2018 elections.