Following the tabulation of all the votes in Palau, including the absentee ballots, Senior garnered 5,112 while her opponent, Sen. Frank Kyota, got 4,671 votes.
The first woman to become Palau’s vice president was Sandra Pierantozzi who was elected in 2000.
In an interview, Senior thanked the support of women, saying they were instrumental in her win.
She said it’s always part of Palauan culture to recognize the strength and contributions of women.
“The reason I made it, it’s because it’s part of who we are as a people,” she said. “It’s not going out of mainstream and not doing something totally ‘un-Palauan” to elect a woman vice president. In fact, it’s very Palauan to put a woman in a leadership position because we see it in our culture.”
She added, “Thank you to the voters, especially the women. I particularly asked for their support and I believe they gave me their vote.”
Senior said President-elect Surangel Whipps Jr. has started assembling his transition team which includes her.
Senior said she and the president-elect are already putting together a team which she described as “inclusive and collaborative.”
Senior said she has made known to President-elect Whipps that she is interested in the position of the minister of state, but added that the final decision will be made by the incoming president.
Senior is a two-term senator and a lawyer by profession. During the campaign trail, Senior said she would advocate for policies that promote gender equality and youth development.
In 2014, Senior co-founded the Center for Women’s Empowerment Belau with fellow Sen. Rukebai Kikuo Inabo and Minister Baklai Temengil-Chilton of the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs.
In the Senate race, one of the two women candidates won — incumbent Sen. Rukebai Inabo.
In the elections for the House of Delegates, incumbent Dilmai Saiske lost her seat in Ngarchelong to Timothy Sinsak. For her part, Airai Delegate Vicky Kanai ran unopposed.
