“At least this time we could say that the governor will represent over half of the electorate,” he said.
The last time a majority of CNMI voters elected a governor was in 1993.
There were three gubernatorial candidates in 1997, while the 2001, 2005 and 2009 elections were four-way races.
After Gov. Benigno R. Fitial won four years ago by an 84-vote margin, securing only 28 percent of the votes, the CNMI Legislature passed the law mandating a runoff between the top two candidates in case no one secured a majority of the votes.
Last Nov. 7, Republican Heinz S. Hofschneider topped the race, but by only eight votes, garnering 4,900, while Fitial of the Covenant Party received 4,892.
“Both sides fought very hard and the results were amazingly close. It could indicate that there are very clear divisions in the electorate,” McPhetres said.
The next two weeks will be very crucial for the two gubernatorial candidates.
“I am sure that both candidates are going to do their very best to bring out the people who did not vote on Nov. 7. They will both be playing tug-of-war over the people who voted for the two losing independent gubernatorial candidates,” McPhetres said.
He added these are difficult times for the CNMI and the runoff will shape the islands’ future.
