2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election

The 2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election was held on November 5, 2005. Voters in the Northern Mariana Islands voted 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 eighteen seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, 3 mayors, seats for the municipal council, seats for the board of education, 2 justices, and a judges. There was also a referendum on calling a Constitutional Convention, which was approved by voters.Northern Mariana Islands, 5 November 2005: Election of a Constitutional Convention Direct Democracy

The gubernatorial election was the closest in the commonwealth's history, and resulted in the election of Benigno Fitial, narrowly defeating independent Heinz Hofschneider by 84 votes and incumbent Republican Governor Juan N. Babauta by an additional 98 votes. This would be the last year that the gubernatorial race would work in a first-past-the-post voting system as it would be reformed to work under a two-round system for the 2009 general elections. This election made commonwealth history by electing both the territory's first Carolinian governor and its first third party governor.

Background The referendum on the Constitutional Convention was called in order to comply with Chapter XVIII, article 2 of the constitution, which required a referendum to be held at least every ten years on convening such a convention. A referendum had been due in 2003 as the last referendum had been in 1993, but the legislature had failed to organise it.

15,118 people registered with the Election Commission to vote.

Gubernatorial election

Candidates Four candidates ran for governor, each with a running mate:

Covenant Party

Benigno Repeki Fitial of the Covenant Party, sitting Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives and 2001 gubernatorial candidate. Timothy Pangelinan Villagomez, sitting Northern Mariana Islands Representative and Vice Speaker of the House at the time of the election.

Democratic Party

Froilan Cruz "Lang" Tenorio, former Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (1994–1998). Antonio Aguon Santos, educator and teacher.

Independent

Heinz Sablan Hofschneider, an independent, a sitting member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives and former Speaker until 2003. Hofschneider is a Republican, but ran as an independent in this election. David Mundo Apatang, sitting Northern Mariana Islands Representative.

Republican Party Juan Babauta, incumbent Governor elected in 2001. Diego Tenorio Benavente, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands elected in 2001.

Results

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Resident Representative to U.S. Congress This was the last election to have Resident Representative to U.S. Congress. In 2008, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, signed into law by President George W. Bush, replaced the position of resident representative with a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives. The new position received the power to serve in congressional committees, to introduce bills, and to vote on proposed legislation in committee, but still had limited powers on the House floor, lacking the right to vote on legislation on the House floor.

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature

Results summary Parties House Election Results Seat Change Party Strength 2003 2005 +/− Strength

Republican 7 7

38.89%

Covenant 9 7 2 38.89%

Independent 1 2 1 11.11%

Democratic 1 2 1 11.11%

Totals 18 18 100.00%

Parties Senate Election Results Seat Change Party Strength 2003 2005 +/− Strength

Covenant 3 3

33.33%

Republican 2 3 1 33.33%

Democratic 2 2

22.22%

Independent 2 1 1 11.11%

Totals 9 9 100.00%

Senate The Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature, consisting of nine senators representing three senatorial districts (Saipan & the Northern Islands, Tinian & Aguijan, and Rota), each a Multi-member district with three senators. Six seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate were up for the 2005 election.

House of Representatives

The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The house has six districts, several of which are Multi-member districts. All 18 seats in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives were contested in the 2005 election. This was the last election to have 18 members.

Mayors Three mayoral posts were up for election across the Commonwealth. The elections resulted in the Covenant Party taking all the available positions.

Municipal Council

Board of education

Justices Both Supreme Court Justices won retention. Justice For retention Against retention Total Votes % Votes % Alexandro Cruz Castro✅10,14480.43%2,46819.57%12,612 Miguel Sablan Demapan✅8,70468.77%3,95331.23%12,657

Judges

Judge For retention Against retention Total Votes % Votes % David Arthur Wiseman✅8,83571.41%3,53828.59%12,373

Referendum Constitutional Convention QuestionVotes%For7,39458.92Against5,15641.08Invalid/blank votes –Total12,550100Registered voters/turnout15,118Source: Direct Democracy

References

External links Election results Saipan Tribune

2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election

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