AS of Monday morning, the Commonwealth Election Commission had received nominating petitions and candidacy documents from two Democrats, 32 Independents, two Republicans, two judges, and one associate justice.
Independent gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Arnold Indalecio Palacios and his running mate, Saipan Mayor David Mundo Apatang, have already filed their intent to run.
Republican Gov. Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres and running mate Senate Floor Leader Vinnie Flores Sablan; and the Democratic tandem of Reps. Christina “Tina” Marie Sablan and Leila Haveia Fleming Staffler will file their candidacies this Friday, August 5.
For Rota mayor, the candidates so far are Sen. Teresita Apatang Santos, Magdelena San Nicolas Mesngon, Alfred Taisacan Taimanao, and Harry James Atalig Masga. They are running as independents.
For Northern Islands mayor, independent Jocelyn Frances Aldan Kapileo is running against Republican Valintin Igisaiar Taisakan.
On Saipan, independent Ramon Blas Camacho has already filed his candidacy. His opponents are Democrat Rep. Richard T. Lizama and Republican Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero.
For the House of Representatives, Precinct 1 independents Vincent Raymond Seman Aldan, Roman Cepeda Benavente, Shawn Byron Delos Reyes Kaipat, Raymond Ulloa Palacios, Joseph Arriola Flores and Julie Marie Atalig Ogo have filed their candidacies.
Precinct 1 has six House seats.
For the two House seats of Precinct 2, independents Rep. John Paul Palacios Sablan and Manny Gregory Tenorio Castro have filed their candidacies.
In Precinct 3, which has six House seats, those who have already filed their candidacies are Rep. Denita Kaipat Yangetmai, Marissa Renee Flores, Delbert Taitano Pua, House Floor Leader Ralph Naraja Yumul, and House Vice Speaker Blas Jonathan Tenorio Attao. All are independents except for Yangetmai who is a Democrat.
In Precinct 4, which has two House seats, Rep. Joel Castro Camacho and fellow independent Malcolm Jason Omar have filed their candidacies.
In Precinct 5, which also has two House seats, the candidates so far are independents Ignacio Villagomez Cabrera, Angelo Atalig Camacho and Juan Ulloa Maratita.
So far, there are no candidates who have filed their intent to run for Tinian’s lone House seat.
On Rota, which also has one House seat, independent Edward Castro Barcinas has filed his candidacy.
For the two Rota Senate seats, the candidates so far are independents Edward Junior Castro Maratita and Rep. Donald Manalang Manglona.
For Tinian, which has two open Senate seats, Republican Sen. Francisco Quichocho Cruz has already filed his intent to run.
For Saipan, Democrat Rep. Celina Roberto Babauta and independents Corina Lorraine Magofna and Andrew Sablan Salas have already filed their candidacies.
For the three seats of the nonpartisan Rota Municipal Council, Joseph Muna Mendiola and Frederick Atalig Manglona Jr. are the candidates so far.
On Saipan, which also has three municipal council members, Marian Deleon Guerrero has filed her candidacy.
As of Monday, no one had filed an intent to run for the three-seat Tinian Municipal Council.
Judge Joseph Norita Camacho, Judge Wesley Matthew Bogdan, and Associate Justice John Atalig Manglona are all seeking retention.
More candidates — Republicans and Democrats — are expected to submit their letters of intent this Friday.
CNMI voters are also electing a U.S. congressional delegate, a nonpartisan attorney general and a nonpartisan Board of Education member representing Saipan.
The last day to submit nominating petitions and candidacy documents is Aug. 10, 2022.
Election Day is on Nov. 8, 2022, Tuesday.
