2026 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election
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The 2026 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the Governor of Northern Mariana Islands. This election will coincide with the 2026 United States general elections. Voters in the Northern Mariana Islands will vote 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 various municipal councils, seats for the board of education, a justice, and 2 judges.
Governor Arnold Palacios was elected with 54.14% of the vote in the runoff election in 2022. He was eligible to run for re-election in 2026, but died on July 23, 2025.[1] David M. Apatang, the incumbent governor sworn in on July 23, 2025, has not announced his plans.
Background
[edit]A governing coalition made up of independents and Democrats has governed the Northern Mariana Islands since 2023. In the 2024 general election, Republicans won the open US delegate seat while independents not aligned with the Palacios administration made modest gains in the legislature.[2] The Republican National Committee announced Palacios rejoined the Republican Party after the 2024 elections. Palacios’ return received a lukewarm to hostile reception from local Republicans.[3][4] Governor Arnold Palacios died July 23, 2025, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Governor David M. Apatang.[1]
Independents
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Blas T. Attao, former speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2019–2021)[5]
- Running mate: Edmund Villagomez, incumbent speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2021-present)[5]
Potential
[edit]- David M. Apatang, incumbent governor (2025-present)
Republican nomination
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Vinnie Sablan, Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2022 and former member of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate (2019–2023)[6]
- Ralph Torres, former governor (2015–2023)[6]
Declined
[edit]- Blas T. Attao, former speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2019–2021) (running as an independent)[6][5]
Democratic nomination
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Gregorio Sablan, former delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Northern Mariana Islands' at-large congressional district (2009–2025)[6]
General election
[edit]The general election will be November 3, 2026.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Rabago, Mark; Gilbert, Haidee E. (July 23, 2025). "CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios dies Wednesday night, hours after airlifted to Guam for medical treatment". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
- ^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (February 19, 2025). "Ada is new House minority leader". Marianas Variety. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (January 2, 2025). "Year in Review 2024: Governor rejoins Republican Party; local GOP not amused". Marianas Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
- ^ Roberto, Andrew (January 20, 2025). "Republicans gather to discuss governor, future of party". Marianas Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c Erediano, Emmanuel (July 13, 2025). "Attao to run for governor, names Villagomez as running mate". Marianas Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Torres, Troy (April 20, 2025). "Tenorio Alternative Emerges in Guam; Several CNMI Politicians Organizing for 2026". Kandit News & Views. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
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