John Gonzales
Kimberlyn King-Hinds
JOHN Oliver Delos Reyes Bolis Gonzales has rescinded his letter of intent to run under the CNMI GOP banner.
This means that the delegate primary set for Saturday, April 13 is canceled, and Kimberlyn King-Hinds is the Republican candidate for U.S. Congress.
In an April 9, 2024 letter to CNMI Republican Party President Diego T. Benavente, Ambrosio T. Ogumuro, the chair of Gonzales’ committee to elect, complained about the requirement that primary voters should present an ID and register as a Republican.
“The power and [the] right [of] an individual to vote for their candidate should undeniably be allowed without any restriction,” Ogumoro said.
He added that they also have “indisputable evidence to believe that the neutrality and fair play rules expected of party officials for a primary election has been compromised by actions of some party officials and their inner circle clique.”
For example, he said, “some party officials and their inner circle clique were asking for votes for a specific primary candidate at a birthday party, amongst fishing and golfing social groups, gatherings, etc.”
“We believe these actions erode trust, contravening the CNMI GOP’s so-called plan to rebrand and reorganize the party to restore public trust and voter confidence,” Ogumoro added.
Asked whether Gonzales will now run as an independent candidate, Ogumuro said they will provide additional information as soon as they can. In the meantime, he said they want the public to digest the information they provided.
Asked for comment, the CNMI Republican Party issued the following statement on Thursday:
“In a significant development ahead of the scheduled April 13, 2024 primary election, the CNMI Republican Party is proud to announce attorney Kimberlyn King-Hinds as the official Republican candidate for the November election to the U.S. House of Representatives. This announcement comes following John Gonzales’ decision to withdraw from the primary contest.
“Upon receiving official communication from Ambrosio T. Ogumoro, Chairman of the Committee to Elect Gonzales for Congress, confirming Mr. Gonzales’ withdrawal, the CNMI Republican Party took decisive action. President Diego Benavente expressed his congratulations to King-Hinds, recognizing her dedication and readiness to represent the party. ‘Kimberlyn is a proven advocate with a strong track record in legal practice and federal governance, especially concerning environmental protection, military development, and economic growth,’ stated President Benavente.
“Kimberlyn King-Hinds, having declared her intention to seek the Republican nomination on February 29, 2024, brings extensive experience and a committed vision for the CNMI’s future. Her campaign will focus on key issues that resonate with our community and align with Republican values.”
In a separate letter to Ogumoro, Benavente said the party’s bylaws adopted on April 13, 2017 state that only party members shall vote in a party primary election to select a candidate for the U.S. delegate seat.
“The Party Bylaws have been in place for the past 7 years and are the guiding principles for the Republican Party that must be followed and enforced in order to ensure that those who share our Party’s ideals and commitments are the ones making these pivotal and important decisions,” Benavente said.
“This approach is not unique to our Party. In fact, closed primary systems are utilized by various states throughout the U.S., reflecting a widespread practice aimed at preserving the integrity of the nomination process within parties. This method allows for a focused and principled selection of candidates, ensuring that our nominees truly represent the values and goals of the Republican Party.”
So far, the other candidate for delegate is House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, a Precinct 1 Democrat who has been endorsed by Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan. Kilili is retiring once his current and eighth term ends on Jan. 3, 2025.
