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.
Incumbent Governor Arnold Palacios was elected with 54.14% of the vote in the runoff election in 2022. He is eligible to run for re-election.
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.[1] 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.[2][3]
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)[4]
Republican nomination
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Potential
[edit]- Blas T. Attao, former speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2019-2021)[4]
- Arnold Palacios, incumbent governor (2023-present)[4]
- Vinnie Sablan, Repbulican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2022 and former member of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate (2019-2023)[4]
- Ralph Torres, former governor (2015-2023)[4]
General election
[edit]The general election will be November 3, 2026.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 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 d e 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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