Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios share a light moment during a media conference in this file photo.
FOUR years after running together on the Republican ticket, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Gov. Ralph DLG Torres faced each other as adversaries in this year’s runoff election.
In 2018, Torres and Palacios set a CNMI election record by securing 8,922 votes, or 62.2% of the 14,342 total votes cast to defeat the Independent tandem of Juan N. Babauta and Rita A. Sablan by 3,502 votes. Torres and Palacios won by a landslide, receiving the majority of votes cast in every precinct, as well as the absentee votes.
The 2022 gubernatorial runoff election came to a close after the remaining absentee ballots were tabulated on Friday with Palacios ahead of Torres by 1,118 votes.
The lt. governor, who ran as an Independent, won in every precinct except on Tinian and the Northern Islands and secured a majority of the absentee votes to receive 54.12% of the 13,552 votes cast as of Dec. 9, 2022.
In the initial three-way race between Torres, Palacios, and Democratic Rep. Christina Marie E. Sablan on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, Torres came out on top, receiving 5,762 votes, getting most of the votes on Tinian and the Northern Islands, as well as most of the early and absentee votes.
Palacios followed not too far behind with 5,726 votes, finishing first in nearly every precinct. Sablan, who finished third with 4,132 votes, later endorsed Palacios in the runoff.
As governor, Torres has long been scrutinized with the Federal Bureau of Investigation at his doorstep, raiding his office, residence and brothers’ law firm in 2020. He also faced allegations of misuse of public funds and resources, and other controversial public expenditures that resulted in his impeachment by the Democrat and Independent-led House of Representatives. The Republican-led Senate acquitted him of all charges.
On April 8, 2022, the Office of the Attorney General filed a criminal case against Torres alleging misconduct in public office, theft, and contempt.
The case against the governor is related to the issuance of airline tickets for business class, first class, or other premium class travel for himself and/or first lady Diann T. Torres.
The AG’s office also alleges one count of contempt for the governor’s failure to appear in compliance with a House committee subpoena.
The governor has denied the charges, and the case is pending in Superior Court.
Palacios, for his part, has also been under fire for “sitting idly by” as these events unfolded. He was also accused of violating a land lease agreement with the Department of Public Lands. Palacios has denied the allegations.
Running on a platform of “rebuilding trust in the government,” Palacios, 67, and his running mate, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, 74, will take office on Jan. 9, 2023 as the oldest and the first Independent governor and lt. governor in CNMI history.
