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.
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 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% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
editFour 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]
- Gaoteote Palaie Tofau, President of the American Samoa Senate
- Running mate: Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet, state senator[4]
- Iʻaulualo Faʻafetai Talia, executive director of the American Samoa Government's Employee Retirement Fund
- Running mate: Tapaʻau Dr. Dan Mageo Aga, director of the American Samoa Government's Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review and Federal Relations[5]
- Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa, affiliated with the Democratic Party
- Running mate: Salo Ale, former Attorney General of American Samoa[6]
- Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga T. Nua, state senator and former Speaker of the American Samoa House of Representatives, affiliated with the Republican Party
- Running mate: Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr., former state representative[7]
Not-qualified candidates
editFatumalala 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
editOn 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
editGovernor and lieutenant governor
editThe 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.
| Candidate | Running mate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemanu Peleti Mauga | Eleasalo Ale | 7,154 | 60.32 |
| Gaoteote Palaie Tofau | Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet | 2,594 | 21.87 |
| Iʻaulualo Faʻafetai Talia | Tapaʻau Dr. Dan Mageo Aga | 1,461 | 12.32 |
| Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga T. Nua | Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr. | 652 | 5.50 |
| Total | 11,861 | 100.00 | |
| Source: [12] | |||
Fono House of Representatives
editThe 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
editThe Delegate to the United States Congress represents American Samoa's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| 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- ^ a b "Will election law be enforced?". Talanei. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Governor of American Samoa". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "Update: Senators Gaoteote & Fai'ivae team up for 2020 gubernatorial race". www.samoanews.com. February 9, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ a b "Update — Iʻaulualo and Tapaʻau enter 2020 gubernatorial race". www.samoanews.com. July 28, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ "About Us".
- ^ "Gubernatorial team of Sen. Nua and Tapumanaia first to announce". www.samoanews.com. February 15, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ "American Samoa's Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ "First female team officially declares for the 2020 gubernatorial race". www.samoanews.com. July 30, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ "Fatumalala & Leah run for governor/Lt governor".
- ^ "Manu'a Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga announces candidacy for governor". www.samoanews.com. January 25, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
- ^ "2020 GENERAL ELECTION UNOFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). AMERICAN SAMOA ELECTION OFFICE. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2021.
- ^ "2020 General Election Unofficial Results" (PDF). American Samoa Government Election Office. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ 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.