2020 American Samoan general election

General elections were held in American Samoa on 3 November 2020. Voters elected a governor and lieutenant governor, members of the House of Representatives and the American Samoan delegate to the United States Congress.[1] Incumbent Governor of American Samoa Lolo Matalasi Moliga was not eligible for reelection due to term limits. In American Samoa, gubernatorial candidates run on a non-partisan basis and as a slate together with their lieutenant governor candidate.

2020 American Samoa gubernatorial election

← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →
 
Nominee Lemanu Peleti Mauga Gaoteote Palaie Tofau Iʻaulualo Faʻafetai Talia
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Alliance Democratic
Running mate Eleasalo Ale Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet Tapaʻau Dr. Dan Mageo Aga
Popular vote 7,154 2,594 1,461
Percentage 60.31% 21.87% 12.32%

Results by voting district:
Lemanu Peleti Mauga:      40–45%      45–50%      50–55%      55–60%      60–65%      65–70%      70–75%
Gaoteote Palaie Tofau:      45–50%
Iʻaulualo Faʻafetai Talia:      60–65%

Governor before election

Lolo Matalasi Moliga
Democratic

Elected Governor

Lemanu Peleti Mauga
Democratic

In the 2020 election, the previous lieutenant governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga was elected governor, and the former attorney general, Salo Ale, was elected lieutenant governor with more than 60 percent of the vote. Both were affiliated with the Democratic Party and beat two non-partisan tickets, while the candidate affiliated with the Republican Party, Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga T. Nua, only placed fourth.

Candidates

edit

Four political tickets qualified for the 2020 election.[1][2] Although candidates do affiliate with national political parties, the gubernatorial election is held on a nonpartisan basis.[3]

Not-qualified candidates

edit

Fatumalala L. A. Al-Shehri, Independent candidate for American Samoa's at-large congressional district in 2012,[8] had announced plans to run with Leah A. Smith, missionary for the Assembly of God Church, as her running mate on the first all-woman ticket,[9][10] but they were not on the list of qualified candidates released by the American Samoa Election Office after the filing deadline.[2]

Campaign

edit

On January 25, 2019, Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga announced his candidacy.[11]

I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia announced his candidacy at a campaign news media event at Sadie's by the Sea on July 28, 2019.[5]

Gaoteote Palaie Tofau announced his candidacy on February 9, 2020.[4]

Results

edit

Governor and lieutenant governor

edit

The governor of American Samoa is elected on a ticket with the lieutenant governor. Although candidates do affiliate with national political parties, they are elected on a nonpartisan basis.

CandidateRunning mateVotes%
Lemanu Peleti MaugaEleasalo Ale7,15460.32
Gaoteote Palaie TofauFaiivae Iuli Alex Godinet2,59421.87
Iʻaulualo Faʻafetai TaliaTapaʻau Dr. Dan Mageo Aga1,46112.32
Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga T. NuaTapumanaia Galu Satele Jr.6525.50
Total11,861100.00
Source: [12]

Fono House of Representatives

edit

The House of Representatives is the lower house of the American Samoa Fono (legislature). Although candidates do affiliate with national political parties, they are elected on a nonpartisan basis.

District Candidate Votes %
1 – Manuʻa Fetu Fetui Jr. 358 30.2
Alumamalu Ale Seā Filoialiʻi 283 23.9
Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr. 282 23.8
Mapu S. Jamias 262 22.1
2 – Manuʻa Tiaoalii Fauagiga Sai 225 58.7
Sualevai Nofoaiga Sualevai 158 41.3
3 – Vaifanua Lavea Fatulegaeʻe Palepoli Mauga 274 43.2
Tupua Shawn Vaʻa 210 33.1
Suaese "Pooch" Taʻase 150 23.6
4 – Saole Titialiʻi Kitara Vaiau 312 65.8
Vaʻasa Simanu EdD 162 34.2
5 – Sua #1 Luaitaua Gene Pan 310 62.6
Fialupe Felila Fiaui Lutu 152 30.7
Faʻalae Lauatuaʻa Koneseti Tunupopo 33 0.7
6 – Sua #2 Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava 190 56.2
Loia Gutu 148 43.8
7 – Maʻoputasi #1 Vailoata Eteuati Amituanaʻi 284 68.8
Tuika Tuika 129 31.2
8 – Maʻoputasi #2 Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi 197 41.7
Ifopo Maugaoaliʻi Sipa Anoaʻi 195 41.3
Agalelei Latu Fatuesi 53 11.2
Wayne Malaetasi Ames 27 5.7
9 – Maʻoputasi #3 VesiaʻI Poyer S. Samuelu 503 67.2
Veʻevalu Meauta Lauoi Mageo 246 32.8
10 – Maʻoputasi #4 Vaetasi Tuʻumolimoli S. Moliga 116 47.5
Tapai Alailepule Benjamin Vaivao 112 45.9
Tina FaisiotamoʻI Vivao Ioane 16 6.6
11 – Maʻoputasi #5 Faimealelei Anthony Fuʻe Allen 295 67.0
Sauafea Sonny Sauafea 145 33.0
12 – Ituʻau Manumaua Wayne C. Wilson 1,018 37.2
Logoituau Mark Timoteo Atafua 714 26.1
Andrew Earnest Thompson 522 19.1
Sala Sataua Dr. Mataese Samuelu 456 16.6
13 – Fofo Andra Samoa 587 64.6
Puletumalo Dick S. Koko 321 35.4
14 – Lealataua Savali Talavou Ale 294 58.6
Ethan Lake 167 33.3
Faleomavaega Nicholas King Jr. 26 5.2
Andrew Mulivai Autele 15 3.0
15 – Tualauta Larry Simou Sanitoa 1,746 39.4
Samuel Ioka Ale Meleisea 1,222 27.6
Alex M. Sene Jr. 555 12.5
Vui Florence Vaili Saulo 547 12.4
Bartley Papaliʻi Suʻa Lucia 247 5.6
Saili Sione Samo 112 2.5
16 – Tualatai Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase 357 49.4
Timusā Tini C. Lam Yuen 291 40.2
Rachael Manning Key 75 10.4
17 – Leasina Ape Mike Asifoa 255 57.8
Gafatasi Afalava 186 42.2
Source:[13]

Delegate

edit

The Delegate to the United States Congress represents American Samoa's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

American Samoa Delegate to the U.S. Congress general election results, 2020[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Amata Coleman Radewagen 9,880 83.5%
Democratic Oreta Chrichton 1,704 14.4%
Democratic Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman 249 2.1%
Total votes 11,833 100.0%

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Will election law be enforced?". Talanei. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Sagapolutele, Fili (September 2, 2020). "Chief Election Officer names qualified candidates for Nov election". Samoa News. Pago Pago, American Samoa. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  3. ^ "Governor of American Samoa". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Update: Senators Gaoteote & Fai'ivae team up for 2020 gubernatorial race". www.samoanews.com. February 9, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Update — Iʻaulualo and Tapaʻau enter 2020 gubernatorial race". www.samoanews.com. July 28, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "About Us".
  7. ^ "Gubernatorial team of Sen. Nua and Tapumanaia first to announce". www.samoanews.com. February 15, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  8. ^ "American Samoa's Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "First female team officially declares for the 2020 gubernatorial race". www.samoanews.com. July 30, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  10. ^ "Fatumalala & Leah run for governor/Lt governor".
  11. ^ "Manu'a Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga announces candidacy for governor". www.samoanews.com. January 25, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "2020 GENERAL ELECTION UNOFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). AMERICAN SAMOA ELECTION OFFICE. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2021.
  13. ^ "2020 General Election Unofficial Results" (PDF). American Samoa Government Election Office. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  14. ^ Sagapolutele, Fili (November 4, 2020). "Aumua Amata overwhelmingly wins a 4th consecutive 2-year term". Samoa News. Pago Pago, American Samoa. Retrieved November 4, 2020.