On August 3, 2000, Rosalia Tisa Fa’amuli became the first woman to run for the office of Governor of American Samoa.[2] She operates Tisa's Barefoot Bar, one of the most renowned establishments in Alega, and ran for governor as the Green Party's candidate.
On election day, 7 November 2000, Democratic nominee Tauese Sunia won re-election by a margin of 341 votes against his opponent Independent candidate L. Peter Reid, thereby holding Democratic control over the office of governor. Sunia was sworn in for his second term on 3 January 2001.[3]
The election was marked by a close contest that paralleled the contentious nature of the U.S. presidential race held the same year. Incumbent governor Tauese Sunia secured re-election with 6,110 votes, narrowly defeating his opponent, territorial senator Leala P. Reid, who garnered 5,769 votes. Following the election, Reid challenged the results, alleging that Chief Election Officer Soliai T. Fuimaono committed errors that compromised the integrity of the election and left the outcome uncertain. Reid's legal challenge questioned the handling of the vote, suggesting that the process was susceptible to fraud. The case was brought before a five-judge panel of the High Court of American Samoa. In its decision, the court upheld Sunia's re-election, stating that Reid had failed to provide "clear and convincing evidence" sufficient to overturn the election results.[4]
