Governor of the
Northern Mariana Islands
Commonwealth seal
Incumbent
Arnold Palacios
since January 9, 2023
ResidenceJuan A. Sablan Memorial Bldg.
Term length4 years single term, eligible for second.
Inaugural holderCarlos S. Camacho
FormationJanuary 9, 1978
WebsiteOffice of the Governor
Politics of the Northern Mariana Islands
Constitution and law
Executive
Legislature
Elections
Political parties
Federal delegation

The following is a list of persons who served as governor of Northern Mariana Islands. The term of office is 4 years. The longest-serving governors in CNMI history are Pedro Tenorio, who served 12 years in office from 1982 to 1990 and from 1998 to 2002, and Benigno Fitial, who served 7 years, one month, and 11 days from 2006 to 2013.

The current governor is Arnold Palacios, since January 9, 2023.

List

Parties

  Democratic (2)   Republican (7)   Covenant (1)   Independent (1)

Resident Commissioners

No. Portrait Officeholder
(Birth–Death) 		Took office Left office Party
1 Erwin Canham
(1904–1982) 		July 19, 1975 January 9, 1978 Republican

Governors

No. Portrait Officeholder
(Birth–Death) 		Elected Took office Left office Party
1 Carlos S. Camacho
(born 1937) 		1977 January 9, 1978 January 11, 1982 Democratic
2 (1) Pedro Tenorio
(1934–2018) 		1981
1985 		January 11, 1982 January 8, 1990 Republican
3 Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero
(1935–2006) 		1989 January 8, 1990 January 10, 1994 Republican
4 Froilan Tenorio
(1939–2020) 		1993 January 10, 1994 January 12, 1998 Democratic
2 (2) Pedro Tenorio
(1934–2018) 		1997 January 12, 1998 January 14, 2002 Republican
5 Juan Babauta
(born 1953) 		2001 January 14, 2002 January 9, 2006 Republican
6 Benigno Fitial
(born 1945) 		2005
2009[a] 		January 9, 2006 February 20, 2013[b] Covenant (2006–2011)[c]
Republican (2011–2013)
7 Eloy Inos
(1949–2015) 		2014 February 20, 2013[d] December 29, 2015[e] Covenant (2013)
Republican (2013–2015)[f]
8 Ralph Torres
(born 1979) 		2018 December 29, 2015[g] January 9, 2023 Republican
9 Arnold Palacios
(born 1955) 		2022 January 9, 2023 Incumbent Independent

Succession

Main article: Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Northern Mariana Islands

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ To shift governor elections to even-numbered years, the 2009 gubernatorial election was for a five-year term.[1]
  2. ^ Fitial resigned following impeachment by the House of Representatives and prior to likely conviction in an impeachment trial by the Senate.[2][3]
  3. ^ Fitial switched his party affiliation from the Covenant Party to the Republican Party on January 5, 2011, while in office.[4]
  4. ^ As lieutenant governor, Inos became governor following the resignation of Benigno Fitial.[2][3]
  5. ^ Inos died on December 29, 2015, while in office.[5][6]
  6. ^ Inos switched his party affiliation from the Covenant Party to the Republican Party in September 2013, while in office.[7]
  7. ^ As lieutenant governor, Torres became governor following the death of Eloy Inos.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ Casas, Gemma (November 17, 2009). "Northern Marianas' election race heats up". Radio Australia. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Erediano, Emmanuel (February 21, 2013). "New Governor, Lt. Governor". Marianas Variety. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Eugenio, Haidee (March 2013). "Gov Benigno Fitial Steps Down, Eloy Inos Steps In: Dawn of a New Era for CNMI?". Islands Business. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014.
  4. ^ Eugenio, Haidee (January 8, 2011). "Fitial Now Back to Republican Party, Governor's End Goal to Merge Covenant with GOP". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013.
  5. ^ a b Chan, Dennis B. (December 30, 2015). "CNMI Mourns Inos' Death". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on December 29, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Chan, Dennis B. (December 30, 2015). "Torres Becomes Governor; Hocog Is Lt. Gov". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on December 29, 2015.
  7. ^ Eugenio, Haidee (September 19, 2013). "Inos, Covenant Party Members Rejoining GOP". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014.

External links

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Governors of the Northern Mariana Islands
Governors and executives of U.S. states and territories
Chief executives of the United States
Categories