CNMI votes for new leadership amid economic challenges

Voters in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) head to the polls today to elect a new governor, congressional delegate, lawmakers, and local officials in an election dominated by a struggling economy, soaring electricity costs, government funding shortages, and uncertainty over the islands' future.

A total of 43 elected positions are at stake, including governor and lieutenant governor as one ticket, the territory's nonvoting delegate to the US Congress, attorney general, six Senate seats, all 20 House of Representatives seats, four mayors, nine municipal council seats, and one Board of Education position.

Voters will also decide whether to retain Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro Cruz Castro and whether to convene a constitutional convention to consider changes to the Commonwealth's founding document.

The election comes as the US territory struggles to revive tourism, attract investment, maintain public services, and recover from successive destructive typhoons.

Three gubernatorial tickets are vying to succeed Governor David Apatang, who assumed office following the death of former governor Arnold Palacios in July 2025 and is not seeking a full term.

Former governor Ralph DLG Torres, running under the Republican Party, is seeking a political comeback with educator Benjamin Jones Jr as his running mate.

Torres has campaigned on restoring investor confidence, attracting airlines, expanding tourism, and using his connections with the administration of US President Donald Trump to secure federal assistance and economic opportunities.

Independent candidate Rep Blas Jonathan "BJ" Attao, running with House Speaker Edmund Villagomez, has pledged to restore fiscal accountability, address overdue government audits, improve public services, and rebuild confidence in the Commonwealth's finances.

The third candidate, former Education commissioner Lawrence Camacho, is running as an independent with former Senate president Edith Deleon Guerrero.

Their campaign has focused on restructuring government, protecting essential services, improving education, and pursuing economic development while controlling public spending.

All three candidates have promised to address the Commonwealth's economic difficulties, although they differ on how government should spend its limited resources and attract new investment.

The race for the CNMI's seat in the US House of Representatives pits incumbent Republican Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds against independent challenger Galvin Deleon Guerrero, who is on leave as president of Northern Marianas College.

King-Hinds is seeking a second two-year term, pointing to her work on federal immigration reform, transportation, infrastructure, disaster assistance, and legislation aimed at stabilising the Commonwealth's foreign workforce.

Deleon Guerrero is campaigning for a different approach to Washington representation, advocating comprehensive immigration reform, greater investment in education and workforce development, and stronger protection of local interests.

The candidates have also differed over deep-sea mining. King-Hinds has proposed legislation that would give the CNMI a 50 percent share of potential mining revenues if federally authorised operations proceed, while stressing that the proposal does not amount to support for mining.

Deleon Guerrero opposes deep-sea mining and wants greater Commonwealth control over its surrounding waters.

Beyond the political contests, voters will be deciding who should confront the CNMI's financial problems.

The government is operating under a budget of approximately US$100.7 million for fiscal year 2027, with sharply reduced revenues raising concerns about government furloughs, reduced work hours, and cuts to public services.

Public education remains a major concern, with schools struggling with funding shortages, staffing needs, and the challenge of keeping young people from leaving the islands.

Retirees have also been hit by the suspension of their additional 25 percent pension payments after the government failed to identify sufficient funding for the new fiscal year. Officials earlier estimated that US$11.8 million would be needed to maintain the supplemental benefit.

Another pressing issue is the Commonwealth's ageing power infrastructure.

Residents and businesses continue to face high electricity costs, while the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation is pursuing renewable energy projects and improvements to its power grid.

The proposed development of large-scale solar farms, alongside questions about electricity rates, reliability, and the cost of modernising the system, is expected to remain a major challenge for the next administration.

Tourism recovery, the future of the foreign worker programme, healthcare access, military development, and proposed seabed mining in waters surrounding the Marianas are among the other issues confronting the incoming government.

The election will also determine the composition of the 29-member Legislature, which will play a central role in shaping future budgets, protecting retirement benefits, funding education, and responding to the Commonwealth's economic challenges.

Four mayoral posts are also on the ballot, covering Saipan, Tinian and Aguiguan, Rota, and the Northern Islands.

The election for attorney general is a three-way contest between Joaquin DLG Torres, Jonathan Glass, and Michael Evangelista.

Meanwhile, voters are being asked whether the CNMI should hold another constitutional convention.

The question was placed on the ballot through an executive order signed by Apatang in September after the Legislature failed to act on a constitutional requirement that the issue be submitted periodically to voters.

The Commonwealth last voted on the question in 2014, when it failed to secure the required two-thirds majority.

A vote in favour would set in motion the process of electing convention delegates to propose amendments to the CNMI Constitution. Any proposed changes would still require voter approval.

According to figures released by the Commonwealth Election Commission in September, the CNMI had 18,517 registered voters, including 15,249 on Saipan, 1627 on Rota, 1460 on Tinian, and 181 in the Northern Islands.

Polling stations open at 7am and close at 7pm local time, with counting expected after voting ends.

With no incumbent governor seeking reelection, voters are guaranteed a change in leadership at a time when the Northern Marianas faces difficult decisions over its economy, public finances, and future relationship with Washington.