2005 Northern Mariana Islands general election

5 November 2005

Gubernatorial election

Candidate Benigno Fitial Heinz Hofschneider Party Covenant Independent Running mate Timothy Villagomez Diego Benavente Popular vote 3,766 3,682 Percentage 27.95% 27.33%   Candidate Juan Babauta Froilan Tenorio Party Republican Democratic Running mate David M. Apatang Antonio Santos Popular vote 3,584 2,440 Percentage 26.60% 18.11%

Governor before election Juan Babauta Republican Elected Governor Benigno Fitial Covenant

House election

All 18 seats in the House of Representatives 10 seats needed for a majority

Party Seats Covenant 7 Republican 7 Democratic 2 Independents 2 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Senate election

6 of the 9 seats in the Senate 5 seats needed for a majority

Party Seats Covenant 3 Republican 3 Democratic 2 Independents 1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands
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General elections were held in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) on Saturday, 5 November 2005, electing the governor and Legislature. There was also a referendum on calling a Constitutional Convention,^[1] which was approved by voters.^[2] 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.^[3] This election made commonwealth history by electing both the territory's first Carolinian governor and its first third party governor.^[4]

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.^[2] A referendum had been due in 2003 as the last referendum had been in 1993, but the Legislature had failed to organise it.^[2]

15,118 people registered with the Election Commission to vote.^[5]

Gubernatorial election

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%

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

Judges

Referendum

References

External links

• Election results Saipan Tribune