In 1978, incumbent Guam Governor Ricardo Bordallo, a Democrat, lost re-election to Republican Paul McDonald Calvo.[2] Four years later, Bordallo, who planned a political comeback, once again announced his candidacy for Governor.[2] Bordallo chose U.S. Air Force Colonel Edward Diego Reyes, a political unknown with no previous experience in elected office as his running mate.[2][3] Reyes, a Vietnam War veteran with several awards and honors, retired from the U.S. Air Force following a 28-year career in order to enter the race with Bordallo.[3]
Bordallo and Reyes were challenged in the 1982 Democratic gubernatorial primary by Bordallo's former Lt. Governor Rudy Sablan and his running mate, Joe Leon Guerrero.[3] However, Bordallo-Reyes easily defeated Sablan in the primary election by 35 percent.[3]
Bordallo and Reyes' campaign utilized the "People First" slogan in the general election campaign against Governor Paul McDonald Calvo.[3] The Bordallo-Reyes defeated incumbent Governor Calvo and his running mate, Peter F. Perez Jr., in the 1982 general election.[2][3] Bordallo won the race 1,402 votes (approximately 5%) out 28,996 votes cast.[3] Bordallo and Reyes were sworn in as Governor and Lt. Governor on January 3, 1983.
Bordallo and Reyes sought re-election to a second term in 1986. However, Governor Bordallo was indicted in September 1986 on eleven counts of corruption.[2] Lt. Governor Reyes, who continued to support Bordallo as his running mate, was not implicated in the scandal and emerged from it with his reputation unscathed.[4] However, the chances that Bordallo-Reyes ticket would be re-elected were severely diminished by Bordallo's indictment.[4]
Bordallo-Reyes lost re-election to Republican Joseph Franklin Ada and his running mate, Frank Blas, in the general election on November 4, 1986.[4] Ada defeated Governor Bordallo by 2,581 votes (7.6%).[4]
Reyes served in the 20th and the 22nd Guam Legislatures.[5]
In 1994, Reyes unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Guam, choosing Gloria Nelson as his running mate for Lt. Governor.[6]
