Crisostimo said he is a member of the U.S. Democratic Party, adding that the local Democrats still have no official links with the national party.
As a Democrat, he emphasized the need to “work very closely” with his counterpart in the U.S. which are expected to retain control of the U.S. Congress.
The lawmaker from Saipan said he welcomes other individuals who are also interested to run as Democrats.
“And if that’s the case, then I guess there should be a party primary,” he said.
He believes in an open primary, saying that “the Democratic Party is the common people’s party and we should welcome everybody.”
The local Democratic Party will hold a general membership meeting this Wednesday to prepare for the first CNMI delegate election on Nov. 4.
The June 4 meeting will start at 6 p.m. and will be held at the Garapan Central Park.
Party Chairman Manuel C. Sablan said the party will not yet endorse Crisostimo’s bid because other members may also want to run.
“The more the merrier,” said Sablan in a separate interview last week.
The party may decide to hold a primary, he added.
Sablan said it is also about time that the local Democrats align with the national party.
The Democratic Party won the 1977 and 1997 gubernatorial elections, but its popularity has faded since then.
It now has only one House member and two senators, one of whom, Crisostimo, won re-election as an Independent after the NMI Democratic Party declined to endorse him.
