The Republican Party entered the 2022 general election with the baggage of their lost trifecta from the 2020 general election, which saw the slumbering CNMI Democratic Party awaken and gain control of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives through a coalition with several independent members and a single-seat in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate. The Republicans also dealt with several corruption scandals revolving around incumbent Governor Ralph Torres, though Judge pro tempore Alberto E. Tolentino's decision to not try Governor Torres until after the election cycle allowed the incumbent governor to participate in the election.[7] This allowed a three-way race for the governorship between a resurgent Democratic Party, an incumbent Republican Party, and a former Republican turned Independent, to occur.
On the economic front, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath caused a complete collapse of the local tourism industry, creating a massive economic burden on the territory.[8] Flights between the CNMI and fellow US Territory Guam, as well as countries such as Japan and Korea, dropped to record lows or were suspended completely, severely damaging the economy.[9][10][11] The worsening relations between the United States and China also signalled that Chinese tourists, once a cornerstone of the local tourism industry, will likely not return to the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The CNMI also witnessed a massive 73% decline in the number of foreign workers from 2001 to 2020,[12] a sign of the lack of economic opportunity on the island and a key contributor to the declining population.[13] The declining population has led to lower tax revenue and worse social services and economic conditions, leading to more people leaving and creating a cycle that is difficult to break and is placing pressure on the local government, especially on the incumbents.[14]
The CNMI is also witnessing a healthcare system that is inadequate to meet the needs of the territory, with many taking trips to neighboring Guam to obtain the services they need.[15]
In the general election, Ralph Torres came in first with 38.83% of the vote, followed by Arnold Palacios at 33.15% and Tina Sablan at 28.01%.[2] Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, a runoff between Ralph Torres and Arnold Palacios was held on 25 November 2022.[1][2][3] Tina Sablan and Leila Staffler endorsed Arnold Palacios in the runoff, and Arnold Palacios and David Apatang signed a "unity pledge" with them promising action on several policy issues, including health care, labor, and infrastructure.
Arnold Palacios and David Apatang won the runoff election with 54.14% of the vote to 45.86% for Ralph Torres and Sablan.[2] Palacios was the first independent elected Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands and the first independent to win a gubernatorial election in any U.S. state or territory since 2014.[c]
Incumbent Representative Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, previously an independent who caucused with the Democratic Party, ran for re-election as the Democratic nominee for the first time in his career. Sablan, first elected in 2008, had held the seat since its creation in 2009. Delegate Gregorio Sablan was re-elected. The Northern Mariana Islands' non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives was elected for a two-year term.
^ A special election for Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives District 3 was called for October 16, 2021 after the seat became vacant after Ivan A. Blanco (R) died while in office on July 23, 2021. Corina L. Magofna (D) won.
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