Northern Mariana Islands 2026 gubernatorial race kicks off

The Northern Mariana Islands will be holding elections for governor and lieutenant governor on November 3, 2026, after unexpected events altered the territory’s political landscape. Arnold I. Palacios (R) intended to run for reelection, seeking a second term in office, following his 2023 victory over incumbent Ralph Torres (R). However, on July 23, 2025, Palacios passed away at age 69. Lieutenant Governor David Apatang was then sworn in as governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. At the time of publishing, Apatang has shown no intention of running for election.

To take his place, three candidates have announced their candidacy for the 2026 gubernatorial election. The first candidate is former senator Vinnie Sablan (R). He is currently the chief of staff for current Lieutenant Governor Dennis Mendolia (R) and intends to be the CNMI Republican Party candidate.

“Above all, my goal is to restore confidence in government by leading with integrity, humility, and a steadfast focus on the needs of our people,” Sablan wrote in a letter to the Republican Party.

The second candidate is Blas Jonathan Tenorio Attao, who previously served as a legislative assistant in the Legislative Bureau and in the House of Representatives. Attao is running as an independent.

In response to Sablan’s candidacy, Attao wrote, “I would like to extend my congratulations to Vinnie Sablan on his announcement to seek the Republican nomination for Governor in the upcoming 2026 General Election.”

The third candidate is Ralph Torres (R). He is a member of the Republican Party who served as Senate President for the Northern Mariana Islands Legislature. He then went on to serve as lieutenant governor and then governor in December 2015. Now, he has announced he is running for reelection, seeking the Republican nomination in the gubernatorial race.

For now, there is no Democratic candidate, as the party has not yet received a letter of intent. 

Voters worry about business and employment opportunities. They also wish to safeguard their federal benefits and programs, such as Medicaid. With Washington proposing to cut some social services like SNAP, voters will be looking at which candidates can better negotiate with federal officials to ease their anxieties.