Reform Party
FounderFroilan Tenorio
Founded1999
Dissolved2002
Split fromDemocratic Party
Merged intoDemocratic Party
IdeologyPopulism
Radical centrism
Political positionRadical centrism
Colors  Purple

The Reform Party was a political party in the Northern Mariana Islands. It was not an affiliate of the Reform Party USA but rather the American Reform Party, a splinter group.[1][2] The party was founded in 1999 by former Governor Froilan C. Tenorio, who claimed to be disgruntled and tired of the disunity showed by his former political affiliation, the Democrats.[3][4] He also targeted the Republicans, saying that they did nothing to improve the slumping economy.[1] Despite this, in 2000, Gubernatorial and Democrat hopeful former Lt. Gov. Jesus C. Borja publicly expressed interest in a Democrat-Reform united front against the Republicans in the 2001 elections.[5]

In the 1999 general elections, the Reform Party won their first and only seat in the Northern Mariana Island Senate with candidate Ramon "Kumoi" Santos Deleon Guerrero.[6]

In the general elections held on 3 November 2001, the party won no seats and gubernatorial candidate Froilan Cruz Tenorio of the Reform Party won 1,368 votes out of the 12,124 votes (11.3%) coming in fourth place, defeated by the Republicans (42.8%), Covenant (24.4%), and Democrats (17.5%).[7] The Reform Party was formally dissolved in 2002, remerging into the Democratic Party.[8] Party founder Froilan Tenorio would switch back to the Democratic Party for his 2005 Gubernatorial bid.[9] Their website no longer exists, only accessible through the Wayback Machine, which shows the last moment it was accessible is 2008 and that the last newsletter posted was by former Senator Ramon "Kumoi" Santos Deleon Guerrero on 10 December 2001.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Dandan, Zaldy (April 12, 1999). "New Party organized" (PDF). Mariana's Variety. Vol. 26, no. 9. p. 3. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Dass, Jojo (June 17, 1999). "Island-wide Election for House Reps Proposed" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 26, no. 70. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  3. ^ Dandan, Zaldy (1999-03-22). "Froilan doubts Democrats to remain united for long". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  4. ^ Dass, Jojo (June 17, 1999). "Island-wide Election for House Reps Proposed" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 26, no. 70. p. 6. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "Borja welcomes coalition with Reform Party". Saipan Tribune. 2000-06-15. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  6. ^ a b "The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands American Reform Party Application". 2008-07-24. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  7. ^ "Flashback November 05, 2001-2002". Saipan Tribune. 2006-11-04. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  8. ^ Staff, Variety News (2002-06-13). "Tenorio returns to Democratic Party". Marianas Variety News & Views. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  9. ^ "Lang Tenorio eyeing Dem's endorsement". Saipan Tribune. 2004-08-29. Retrieved 2021-12-17.


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