2026 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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The 2026 Northern Mariana Islands gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Northern Mariana Islands. In the 2022 election, Arnold Palacios was elected with 54.14% of the vote. He was eligible to run for re-election in 2026, but died on July 23, 2025.[1] David M. Apatang, who was sworn in on July 23, 2025 as Palacio's successor, announced on March 29, 2026 that he would not seek a full term, and instead endorsed Blas T. Attao.
A governing coalition made up of independents and Democrats has governed the Northern Mariana Islands since 2023. In the 2024 general election, Republicans won the open US delegate seat while independents not aligned with the Palacios administration made modest gains in the legislature.[2] The Republican National Committee announced Palacios rejoined the Republican Party after the 2024 elections. Palacios' return received a lukewarm to hostile reception from local Republicans.[3][4] Governor Arnold Palacios died on July 23, 2025, and was succeeded by lieutenant governor David M. Apatang.[1]
Candidates
Independents
Declared
- Blas T. Attao, former speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2019–2021)[5]
- Running mate: Edmund Villagomez, speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2021–present)[5]
Declined
- David M. Apatang, incumbent governor (2025–present) (endorsed Attao)[6]
Endorsements
- Statewide officials
- David Apatang, Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands (2025–present)[6]
- U.S. Representatives
- Gregorio Sablan, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from MP-AL (2009–2025) (Democratic)[6]
Republican Party
Declared
- Ralph Torres, former governor (2015–2023)[7]
- Running mate: Benjamin Jones Jr., principal of Kagman High School.[8]
Withdrawn
- Vinnie Sablan, former territorial senator and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2022 (running for Senate)[9][10]
Declined
- Blas T. Attao, former speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives (2019–2021) (running as an independent)[5]
