List of governors of the Northern Mariana Islands
| Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
|---|---|
Commonwealth seal | |
| Residence | Juan A. Sablan Memorial Bldg. |
| Term length | 4 years single term, eligible for second. |
| Inaugural holder | Carlos S. Camacho |
| Formation | January 9, 1978 |
| Website | Office of the Governor |
The following is a list of persons who served as Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. The term of office is 4 years. The longest-serving governor in CNMI history is Pedro Tenorio, who served 12 years in office from 1982 to 1990 and again from 1998 to 2002.
List of Governors
- Parties
Democratic (2) Republican (7) Covenant (1) Independent (2)
| No. | Portrait | Officeholder (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlos S. Camacho (born 1937) |
1977 | January 9, 1978 | January 11, 1982 | Democratic | ||
| 2 | Pedro Tenorio (1934–2018) |
1981 1985 |
January 11, 1982 | January 8, 1990 | Republican | ||
| 3 | Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero (1935–2006) |
1989 | January 8, 1990 | January 10, 1994 | Republican | ||
| 4 | Froilan Tenorio (1939–2020) |
1993 | January 10, 1994 | January 12, 1998 | Democratic | ||
| 5 | Pedro Tenorio (1934–2018) |
1997 | January 12, 1998 | January 14, 2002 | Republican | ||
| 6 | Juan Babauta (born 1953) |
2001 | January 14, 2002 | January 9, 2006 | Republican | ||
| 7 | Benigno Fitial (born 1945) |
2005 2009[a] |
January 9, 2006 | February 20, 2013[b] | Covenant (2006–2011)[c] | ||
| Republican (2011–2013) | |||||||
| 8 | Eloy Inos (1949–2015) |
2014 | February 20, 2013[d] | December 29, 2015[e] | Covenant (2013) | ||
| Republican (2013–2015)[f] | |||||||
| 9 | Ralph Torres (born 1979) |
2018 | December 29, 2015[g] | January 9, 2023 | Republican | ||
| 10 | Arnold Palacios (born 1955) |
2022 | January 9, 2023 | July 23, 2025[h] | Independent (2023–2024) | ||
| Republican (2024–2025)[i] | |||||||
| 11 | David M. Apatang (born 1948) |
2022 | July 23, 2025[j] | Incumbent | Independent | ||
Notes
- ↑ To shift governor elections to even-numbered years, the 2009 gubernatorial election was for a five-year term.[1]
- ↑ Fitial resigned following impeachment by the House of Representatives and prior to likely conviction in an impeachment trial by the Senate.[2][3]
- ↑ Fitial switched his party affiliation from the Covenant Party to the Republican Party on January 5, 2011, while in office.[4]
- ↑ As lieutenant governor, Inos became governor following the resignation of Benigno Fitial.[2][3]
- ↑ Inos died on December 29, 2015, while in office.[5][6]
- ↑ Inos switched his party affiliation from the Covenant Party to the Republican Party in September 2013, while in office.[7]
- ↑ As lieutenant governor, Torres became governor following the death of Eloy Inos.[5][6]
- ↑ Palacios died on July 23, 2025, while in office.[8]
- ↑ Palacios switched his party affiliation from Independent to the Republican Party in December 2024, while in office.[9]
- ↑ As lieutenant governor, Apatang became governor following the death of Arnold Palacios.[8]
References
- ↑ Casas, Gemma (2009-11-17). "Northern Marianas' election race heats up". Radio Australia. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Erediano, Emmanuel (February 21, 2013). "New Governor, Lt. Governor". Marianas Variety. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Eugenio, Haidee (March 2013). "Gov Benigno Fitial Steps Down, Eloy Inos Steps In: Dawn of a New Era for CNMI?". Islands Business. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014.
- ↑ Eugenio, Haidee (January 8, 2011). "Fitial Now Back to Republican Party, Governor's End Goal to Merge Covenant with GOP". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chan, Dennis B. (December 30, 2015). "CNMI Mourns Inos' Death". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on December 29, 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chan, Dennis B. (December 30, 2015). "Torres Becomes Governor; Hocog Is Lt. Gov". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on December 29, 2015.
- ↑ Eugenio, Haidee (September 19, 2013). "Inos, Covenant Party Members Rejoining GOP". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Erediano, Emmanuel T. (2025-07-24). "Gov. Palacios passes away; Apatang assumes office". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ↑ "Republican National Committee welcomes Governor-elect Pulaalii Nikolao Pula and Governor Arnold Palacios to the Republican Party". KUAM Radio. Retrieved 2025-07-23.