Gubernatorial elections were held in American Samoa on 8 November 1977, with a run-off between the top two candidates on 22 November. Peter Tali Coleman was elected with 56% of the vote in the second round.Coleman Wins Election Highlights, 1 December 1977, p4
This election was the first gubernatorial election ever to be held in American Sāmoa. It featured multiple two-person tickets for governor and lieutenant governor. The leading slates were Peter Coleman–Tufele Liʻamatua; A. P. Lutali–Fofo I. F. Sunia; and A. U. Fuimaono–Lutu Tenari. Because victory required an absolute majority, Coleman’s first-round plurality (40.2%) triggered a runoff, which he won. He assumed office on January 3, 1978, as the territory’s first elected governor.Shaffer, Robert J. (2000). American Samoa: 100 Years Under the United States Flag. Island Heritage. Page 194.
Candidates Former appointed governor Peter Tali Coleman ran with Tufele Liamatua as his running mate for lieutenant governor. The territory's delegate at-large A. P. Lutali ran with Fofō Iosefa Fiti Sunia, a Senator. Former delegate at-large A. U. Fuimaono ran alongside Senator Lutu T. S. Fuimaono.The line-up for top job in American Samoa Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1977, p10
Results
References