General elections were held in Palau on 4 November 2008 to elect the President and members of the National Congress. The presidential election was won by Johnson Toribiong. Incumbent President Tommy Remengesau was ineligible to run because he had served the maximum two consecutive terms allowed and announced that he would run for a seat in the Senate.
This was the first election in Palau in which presidential candidates ran with a declared vice-presidential candidates. In previous elections, the President and vice-presidents had been elected separately, and the winners of those elections served as a "national leadership team".
Presidential candidates Primary elections were held on 23 September, with two candidates progressing to the general election in November. Four candidates registered for the primary elections: Elias Camsek Chin – The incumbent Vice-President was seeking a promotion to the Palauan presidency. His running mate was Senator Alan R. Seid. Johnson Toribiong – Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan), and he was running with Delegate Kerai Mariur. Surangel S. Whipps – President of the Senate and his running mate was Billy Kuartei, the Chief of Staff for President Remengesau. Joshua Koshiba – Senator and his running mate was Governor of Peleliu Jackson Ngiraingas.
Campaign All four presidential candidates and their running mates held rallies throughout Palau. Campaigning also took place in overseas Palauan communities in the mainland United States, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
A total of 43 candidates ran for the thirteen seats in the Senate, while 44 candidates contested the sixteen seats in the House of Delegates. A record ten women were competing for seats in the Senate and House of Delegates, with seven women running for the at large Senate race.
Results President Elias Chin and Johnson Toribiong were the top two vote-getters in the primary elections. Chin and Toribiong then faced each other in the general election. In early, preliminary results Toribiong held a 130-vote lead over Chin, with 1,629 votes to Chin's 1,499. Toribiong and his running mate, Kerai Mariur, were declared the winner of the election on 7 November. It was reported that Toribiong had received a concession phone call from Vice-President Chin.
Senate Surangel Whipps, Jr. made history by becoming the first Senator to win by write-in. He also received the highest percentage (65%) of votes of any senatorial candidate since his father achieved 73.5% of the vote.
Elected members Surangel Whipps Jr. (6,461) Raynold Oilouch (6,073) Mlib Tmetuchl (5,360) Joel Toribiong (5,086) Katharine Kesolei (4,947) Mark U. Rudimch (4,891) Hokkons Baules (4,437) Adalbert Eledui (3,934) Regina Mesebeluu(3,731) Alfonso N. Diaz (3,603) Tommy Remengesau Jr. (3,579) Regis Akitaya (3,144) Paul Ueki (3,044)
House of Delegates
By state State Candidate Votes NotesAimeliik Kalistus Ngirturong 269 Elected Warren Umetaro 182Airai Tmewang Rengulbai 525 Elected Noah Secharraimul 389Angaur Horace Rafael 172 Elected Natus Misech 121Hatohobei Wayne Andrew 40 Elected Sebastian Marino 35 Huan Hosei 33Kayangel Noah Kemesong 180 Elected Jeffrey Titiml 120Koror Alexander Merep 1,845 Elected Salvador Tellames 700 Hilaro Ngiraidong 385Melekeok Lentcer Basilius 171 Elected Teodoro Rengulbai 99 Kazuo Asanuma 81 Danny Ongelungel 60Ngaraard Gibson Kanai 422 Elected Salvador Remoket 358Ngarchelong Marhence Madrangchar 203 Elected Faustina Rehuher-Marugg 191 Dilmai Saiske 188 Don Bukurrow 164Ngardmau Rebluud Kesolei 193 Elected Balkuu Kumangai 92Ngaremlengui Swenny Ongidobel 218 Elected Portia Franz 136 Alonzo Kyota 83Ngatpang Jerry Nabeyama 97 Elected Valentino Emesiochel 89Ngchesar Secilil Eldebechel 112 Elected Moses Uludong 99 Sirino Hideo 52 Zacheus Kotaro 44 Marcello Ngirkelau 42 Bonifacio Basilius 22Ngiwal Noah Idechong 125 Elected Krispin Termeteet 52 Francis Llecholch 41Peleliu Jonathan Isechal 338 Elected Sinton Soalablai 256Sonsorol Celestin Yangilmau 61 Elected Edwin Mario 42 Marcelino Xavier 30Source: Psephos
References
External links Pacific Magazine: Record Number Of Women Seek Palau Senate Seats Okedyulabeluu: Updated results below Pacific Magazine: Johnson Toribiong Wins Palau Presidential Race