Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R) is seeking reelection to American Samoa’s nonvoting seat in the United States House of Representatives on November 3, 2026.
She was elected as American Samoa’s third member of Congress on November 4, 2014, defeating incumbent Delegate Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (D). According to her office, she is the first woman to serve in the US House from American Samoa, the first Republican woman of Samoan descent in Congress, and the most senior Republican elected federal officeholder of Asian Pacific heritage.
Radewagen announced her campaign on March 2, 2026, and will again appear on the ballot as Aumua Amata. American Samoa’s elections are nonpartisan, and party labels do not appear on the ballot.
“I am more enthusiastic than ever about representing American Samoa, with a lifelong network that has often been effective for our people, along with considerable seniority in Congress, where seniority has an important role in committees and legislation,” Radewagen said.
Radewagen was born in Washington, DC, in 1947. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Guam. Before Congress, she worked as a congressional staffer, including for Republican members Phil Crane of Illinois and J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, and on the staff of the House Republican Conference.
Radewagen pointed to a bipartisan bill that, beginning in fiscal year 2020, raised American Samoa’s federal Medicaid support to 83% by statute. She has also cosponsored the bipartisan Territories Health Equity Act, which would remove American Samoa’s Medicaid cap entirely.
“We’ve increased our Medicaid allotment by tens of millions in recent years, and our territory does not use our full Medicaid allotment,” she said.
Radewagen said that despite a focus on fiscal discipline in Washington this year, American Samoa’s operations account at the Office of Insular Affairs was protected. It was increased for the seventh time since fiscal year 2018, by nearly $1 million this year, for $6.3 million a year in accumulated additions.
She also pointed to VA reform efforts that support veterans, including in the Pacific islands. On seabed mining, she said, “For the past year, we’ve held a united front against seabed mining, while emphatically urging the federal government to keep activity at least 50 miles away, and federal departments are honoring our position.”
Radewagen said that while she has served under three presidents and several House speakers of both parties, her candidacy is never about them.
“It is about you, the people of American Samoa. The people of the United States select who is in charge in Washington, and it is my role to work with them for the good of American Samoa. The fact is, after the 2026 elections, President Trump will have two more years, including his Department of the Interior, and we’ll continue our proven, effective practice of working with them on behalf of our islands,” she said.
Radewagen faces four challengers, including Sandra King Young, whose campaign Pasquines covered in June. Another candidate, former American Samoa Department of Homeland Security Director Samana Semo Ve’ave’a, died on October 19, 2026.
Polls will open from 6 am to 6 pm American Samoa time on November 3, 2026, with results expected soon after.
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