The 2026 Northern Mariana Islands General election will be held on November 3, 2026, corresponding 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, and seats for the board of education.

Background

Since 2023, a governing coalition made up of independents and Democrats has governed the Northern Mariana Islands. In the 2024 general election, Republicans won the open US delegate seat while independents not aligned with the Arnold 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]

Key issues for the 2026 election remain similar to the previous general elections, with the economy and corruption being key issues that many criticize Governor Palacios and the Democrat-Independent Coalition for failing to rectify.[4] The island’s largest industry, tourism, have not recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic, and tourism have fallen compared to 2024 numbers.[5][6] Another issue is the Administration’s hostility to reopening the Chinese tourism market, likely due to the declining relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.[7] The decision by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to abruptly stop processing travelers’ applications under the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) has crippled the Chinese tourism market for the CNMI.[5][8] The two weekly flights by Hong Kong Airlines have been suspended until June 16 pending reinstatement of the program.[5][8]

Gubernatorial election

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.[9] David M. Apatang, the incumbent governor sworn in on July 23, 2025, has announced on March 29, 2026 that he would not seek a full term.[10] Former House Speaker Blas T. Attao announced that he will run for Governor as an independent.[11]

Delegate to the US House of Representatives

Republican Party president Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero has stated that reelecting Kimberly King-Hinds as Delegate remains the top priority for the party.[12] On June 20th, 2025, Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, the president of Northern Marianas College and nephew of former delegate Gregorio Sablan, announced his candidacy as an independent.[13]

Attorney General

Edward Manibusan was reelected in 2022 with 55.17% of the vote against former judge Juan Tudela Lizama.[14] He has not announced his intentions.

Senate

Six of the nine seats of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate will be up for reelection.

District 1

District 1 is coterminous with the island of Rota. In 2022, Dennis C. Mendiola and Donald M. Manglona were elected to the Senate to represent District 1.[15] In 2025, Mendiola was elevated to the lieutenant governor and succeeded by Paul Manglona.[16]

Candidates

  • Robert Harrison Atalig Myers Jr. (Republican), attorney.[17]

District 2

District 2 is coterminous with Tinian Municipality. In 2022, incumbents Jude Hofschneider and Francisco Q. Cruz were reelected to represent District 2.[15]

District 3

District 3 includes Saipan and the Northern Islands. In 2022, Celina Babauta and Corina Magofna were elected to represent District 3.[15]

Candidates

  • Celina Babauta (Democratic), incumbent senator (2023-present)[18]
  • Vicente Castro Camacho (Independent), former member of the CNMI House of Representatives (2021-2025)[19]
  • Corina Magofna (Independent), incumbent senator (2023-present)[20]
  • Marco T. Peter (Republican), former member of the CNMI House of Representatives (2019-2021)[21]
  • Vinnie Sablan (Republican), former senator (2019-2025)[22]

House of Representatives

The election for all 20 seats in the House of Representatives will be held. Incumbents Blas T. Attao and Edmund Villagomez are retiring to run together on an independent ticket for governor and lieutenant governor respectively.[23]

Local elections

Mayors

Northern Islands

Valentino Nicky Taisacan was elected in 2022 with 63.74% of the vote.[15]

Rota

Incumbent mayor Aubry Manglona Hocog was elected to office in 2022 with 34.95% of the vote against four other candidates.[15] She has not announced her intentions.

Saipan

Ramon Jose Blas "RB" Camacho was elected in 2022 with 38.04% of the vote against two other candidates.[15] Mayor Camacho is running for reelection.[24] He is being challenged by Joel C. Camacho, a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives from Precinct #4.[25]

Tinian

Mayor Edwin P. Aldan is term-limited and cannot run for reelection. On April 11th, 2026, Antonio San Nicolas Borja, who served as Tinian's representative in the CNMI House of Representatives during the 21st Commonwealth Legislature, defeated incumbent Tinian representative Patrick H. San Nicolas for the Republican nomination for mayor. Borja won with an overwhelming 543 votes to San Nicolas' 180 votes.[26]

Municipal councils

Elections for the municipal councils will be held.

Board of education

Elections will be held for the board of education.

Judiciary

Retention elections will be held.

References

  1. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (February 19, 2025). "Ada is new House minority leader". Marianas Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  2. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (January 2, 2025). "Year in Review 2024: Governor rejoins Republican Party; local GOP not amused". Marianas Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  3. ↑ Roberto, Andrew (January 20, 2025). "Republicans gather to discuss governor, future of party". Marianas Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Tenorio Alternative Emerges in Guam; Several CNMI Politicians Organizing for 2026". KANDIT News Group. 2025-04-20. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  5. 1 2 3 "MARIANAS RECORDS 11,877 VISITOR ARRIVALS IN APRIL 2025 – Marianas Visitors Authority – Saipan | Tinian | Rota". Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  6. ↑ "March tourist arrivals down 27%". Marianas Variety News & Views. 2025-04-15. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  7. ↑ Rabago, Mark (2025-05-07). "'We're feeling the pinch': CNMI governor blames economic slump on geopolitical tensions". RNZ. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  8. 1 2 "CNMI's tourism crisis deepens as flights drop and businesses close". Isla Public Media KPRG. 2025-06-05. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Rabago, Mark. "Apatang, Kilili endorse Attao-Villagomez tandem | Marianas Press". marianaspress.com. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  11. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel (July 13, 2025). "Attao to run for governor, names Villagomez as running mate". Marianas Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  12. ↑ Rabago, Mark. "Marianas Press - Palacios plans to seek Republican endorsement in 2026". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  13. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (June 20, 2024). "NMC president to run for delegate". Marianas Variety. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  14. ↑ Bautista Esmores, Kimberly (November 10, 2022). "Manibusan retains AG seat; 2 judges, justice are retained". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2022 Official General Election and Run-Off Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. 2022-11-11. Archived from the original on April 15, 2026. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  16. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel (July 31, 2025). "Paul Manglona returns to Senate". Marianas Variety. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Rota lawyer to run for senator". Marianas Variety. September 23, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  18. ↑ Babauta, Celina (December 29, 2025). "Sen. Babauta talks reelection bid, gubernatorial race, legislative record" (Interview). Interviewed by Thomas Manglona II. Marianas Press. Retrieved January 2, 2026 – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ Camacho, Vicente (January 28, 2026). "Vicente Camacho on Senate campaign" (Interview). Interviewed by Thomas Manglona II. Marianas Press. Retrieved February 4, 2026 – via YouTube.
  20. ↑ Magofna, Corina (June 13, 2026). "Senator Magofna discusses re-election bid" (Interview). Interviewed by Thomas Manglona II. Marianas Press. Retrieved June 22, 2026 – via YouTube.
  21. ↑ Peter, Marco T. (November 26, 2025). "Marco Peter announces Senate campaign" (Interview). Interviewed by Thomas Manglona II. Marianas Press. Retrieved February 4, 2026 – via YouTube.
  22. ↑ Manglona II, Thomas (February 26, 2026). "Sablan to run for Senate, withdraws intent to seek GOP nomination for governor". Marianas Press. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  23. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel (July 13, 2025). "Attao to run for governor, names Villagomez as running mate". Marianas Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  24. ↑ "RB Camacho seeks re‑election as Saipan mayor". Marianas Variety. January 11, 2026. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  25. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (November 9, 2025). "Rep. Joel Camacho to run for Saipan mayor". Marianas Variety. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  26. ↑ Erediano, Emmanuel (April 12, 2026). "Tinian GOP primary picks Borja for mayor". Marianas Variety. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Northern_Mariana_Islands_general_election