American Samoa Democratic Party
American Samoa Democratic Party Vaega Faaupufai Temokalasi o Amerika Sāmoa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairperson | Patrick Ti’a Reid |
| Vice Chairperson | Petti Matila |
| Secretary | Renee Togafau Mata’utia |
| National Committeewoman | Sandra King-Young |
| National Committeeman | Andrew Berquist |
| Treasurer | Justin Tuiasosopo |
| Founder | A. P. Lutali[1] |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Headquarters | P.O. Box 1281, Pago Pago, AS 96799 |
| Ideology | Modern liberalism |
| National affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Colors | Blue |
| Seat in the U.S. House of Representatives | 0 / 1 |
| Seats in the American Samoa Senate | 1 / 18 |
| Seats in the American Samoa House of Representatives | 0 / 20 |
| Website | |
| asdems.com | |
American Samoa Democratic Party is the American Samoa affiliate of the U.S. Democratic Party. It is based in the territorial capital of Pago Pago.[2]
History
[edit]The Democratic Party of American Samoa (DPAS) was established in 1976 as a response to the longstanding dominance of the American Samoa Party (ASP), which had been the primary political force in the territory since its formation in 1946. The DPAS was created to offer an alternative political voice, particularly for those who felt underserved by the ASP's policies. The party's early leadership comprised community activists, traditional chiefs, and intellectuals who were committed to preserving the Samoan language, culture, and traditional practices.[3]
Initially, the DPAS garnered significant support from the younger generation, who were increasingly disillusioned with the status quo maintained by the ASP. This support translated into electoral success, and the party soon saw several of its leaders, including notable figures such as Tuiasosopo Mariota Ta’ase and party founder A. P. Lutali, serve in key positions.[4]
The American Samoa Democratic Party became affiliated with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 1984 and entered the arena of national party politics by now participating in the selection of the Democratic presidential candidate at the national conventions.
Today, the DPAS remains the dominant political party in American Samoa, with the smaller Republican Party of American Samoa serving as its primary opposition. Both parties advocate for greater economic development, Americanization, and cultural preservation, but they diverge in their governance strategies. The DPAS continues to focus on preserving Samoan culture, language, and traditions while promoting self-determination and autonomy. The party's support base is strong among traditional chiefs, community activists, intellectuals, and the younger demographic. In contrast, the Republican Party of American Samoa draws its primary support from conservative religious groups and the business community.[5]
Party officials
[edit]Election took place on October 22, 2020.[6]
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Ti’a Reid | Chairman |
| Petti Matila | Vice-chairwoman |
| Renee Togafau Mata’utia | Secretary |
| Justin Tuiasosopo | Treasurer |
| Andrew Berquist | National Committeeman |
| Sandra King-Young | National Committeewoman |
Recent caucuses
[edit]2024 Democratic presidential caucuses
[edit]Biden unexpectedly lost the popular vote to lesser-known candidate Jason Palmer,[7] making Biden the first incumbent president to lose a contested presidential primary since Jimmy Carter lost 12 primaries to Ted Kennedy in 1980.[8] Palmer had three campaign staffers on the island and held several virtual events prior to the caucuses. A Biden campaign official dismissed the loss as "silly news."[9] It was initially reported by the American Samoa Democratic Party that Palmer won four delegates, while Joe Biden won two. The same day, the delegate count was corrected, with Palmer and Biden winning three delegates each.[10]
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Actual delegate count | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bound | Unbound | Total | |||
| Jason Palmer | 51 | 56.0% | 3 | ||
| Joe Biden (incumbent) | 40 | 44.0% | 3 | ||
| Dean Phillips | 0 | 0.0% | |||
| Total: | 91 | 100.00% | 6 | 6 | |
2020 Democratic presidential caucuses
[edit]During the 2020 presidential caucuses for American Samoa, which took place on March 3, 2020, almost half of the votes (49.86%) went to candidate Mike Bloomberg,[12] 29.34% to Tulsi Gabbard, 10.54% to Bernie Sanders, 8.83% to Joe Biden, and 1.42% to Elizabeth Warren.
| Candidate | Votes | % | Delegates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Bloomberg | 175 | 49.86 | 4 |
| Tulsi Gabbard | 103 | 29.34 | 2 |
| Bernie Sanders | 37 | 10.54 | |
| Joe Biden | 31 | 8.83 | |
| Elizabeth Warren | 5 | 1.42 | |
| Uncommitted | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Total | 351 | 100% | 6 |
Bloomberg dropped out of the race following the caucus, causing the party to reassess who would receive its support.[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Craig, Robert D. (2011). Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. Rowman & Littlefield. Page 154. ISBN 9780810867727.
- ^ "American Samoa Democratic Party". Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ James, Gilad (2023). Introduction to American Samoa. Soffer Publishing. ISBN 9798223055129.
- ^ James, Gilad (2023). Introduction to American Samoa. Soffer Publishing. ISBN 9798223055129.
- ^ James, Gilad (2023). Introduction to American Samoa. Soffer Publishing. ISBN 9798223055129.
- ^ "Local Democratic Party elects new officers". Samoa News. November 1, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ Cabral, Sam; Matza, Mike (March 6, 2024). "Who is Jason Palmer? Surprise defeat for Biden in American Samoa". BBC. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Bickerton, James (March 6, 2024). "Joe Biden is first incumbent president to lose a primary in 44 years". Newsweek. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ Stracqualursi, Veronica (2024-03-06). "Who is Jason Palmer, the Democrat who delivered Biden his first primary defeat? | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ "Jason Palmer wins Am. Samoa Democratic Caucus". Talanei. March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "American Samoa Democratic Delegation 2024". The Green Papers. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Super Tuesday: Bloomberg wins American Samoa". RNZ. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "American Samoa Caucus Results | 2020 Presidential Primary Elections". www.nbcnews.com.
- ^ "View American Samoa's 2020 caucus results". www.cnn.com.
- ^ "Democratic Party in American Samoa to reassess after Bloomberg drops out". RNZ. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
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