Northern Mariana Islands Senate

Northern Mariana Islands Senate
Senate
Type
Type
History
New session started
23rd Legislature
Leadership
Edith DeLeon Guerrero (D)
since January 9, 2023
Vice President
Donald Manglona (I)
since January 9, 2023
Majority Leader
Corina Magofna (I)
since January 9, 2023
Structure
Seats9
Political groups
Majority Caucus
  •   Independent (3)
  •   Democratic (2)
Minority Caucus
Website
https://cnmileg.net/senate.asp

The Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The Senate consists of nine senators representing three senatorial districts (Saipan & the Northern Islands, Tinian & Aguijan, and Rota), each a multi-member constituency with three senators.

Maria Frica Pangelinan was the first woman to serve in the Senate.[1]

Vacancies[edit]

In the event of a vacancy that occurs less than two years before the end of the Senator's term, the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands appoints the runner-up of the most recent election. Should that individual decline, the next highest vote getting, unsuccessful candidate become the prospective appointee. Should all the previous candidate's decline, the Governor would then choose an eligible citizen for consideration.[2] In the event a vacancy occurs more than two years before the next scheduled election, a special election is held.[3]

Senators of the 23rd Commonwealth Legislature[edit]

In the 2022 general election, a coalition of Democrats and Independents won a majority of seats in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate.[4] When the 23rd Commonwealth Legislature convened on January 9, 2023, it elected Edith DeLeon Guerrero its President, Donald Manglona its Vice President, and Corina Magofna its floor leader.[5]

District Name Party Caucus Took
Office
1
Rota
Donald Manglona Independent Majority January 9, 2023[4]
Paul Manglona Independent Majority February 10, 2016[6]
Dennis James C. Mendiola Republican Minority January 9, 2023[4]
2
Tinian
Jude Hofschneider Republican Minority January 12, 2015[7]
Francisco Cruz Republican Minority January 11, 2010[8]
Karl King-Nabors Republican Minority January 11, 2021[9]
3
Saipan
Celina Babauta Democratic Majority January 9, 2023[4]
Corina Magofna Independent Majority January 9, 2023[4]
Edith DeLeon Guerrero Democratic Majority January 11, 2021

Past composition of the Senate[edit]

In the November 2007 elections, the three senators up for re-election were all re-elected to another four-year term in the 16th and 17th Senate. The Covenant Party, which lost control of the House, entered into coalition with the Democrats and a lone Independent over the Senate's leadership and voting agenda. The CNMI Senate was controlled in 2016 by a Republican majority under Senate President Francisco Borja.[10]

Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority/plurality)
Total
Republican Independent Democratic Covenant Vacant
End of 17th Legislature 4 4 0 1 9 0
Beginning of 18th Legislature 5 4 0 0 9 0
End of 18th Legislature 5 3 1[11]
Beginning of 19th Legislature 7 2 0 0 9 0
End of 19th Legislature 6 3
20th Legislature 7 2 0 0 9 0
21st Legislature 6 3 0 0 9 0
22nd Legislature 5 3 1 0 9 0
23rd Legislature 4 3 2 0 9
Latest voting share 44% 56%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Calindas, Marconi (2006-03-05). "'Women of power' meet Miss Teen beauties". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  2. ^ Borja, Francisco M. (President of the Senate) (February 10, 2016). "Appointment of Paul A. Manglona" (PDF). Senate Journal. Northern Mariana Islands Senate. 17 (25): 4–11. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Chan, Dennis B. (February 1, 2016). "Manglona seeks participation in next Rota session". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e De La Torre, Ferdie (December 14, 2022). "DeLeon Guerrero may likely become next Senate president". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Bautista Esmores, Kimberly (January 9, 2023). "Deleon Guerrero makes history as first female Senate president". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  6. ^ Borja, Francisco M. (President of the Senate) (February 10, 2016). "Appointment of Paul A. Manglona" (PDF). Senate Journal. Northern Mariana Islands Senate. 17 (25): 4–11. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Camacho, Joel (Master of Ceremony) (January 12, 2015). "Call of Roll by Election District" (PDF). Senate Journal. Northern Mariana Islands Senate. 19 (1). Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Muna, Linda B. (Mistress of Ceremony) (January 11, 2010). "Presentation of Members" (PDF). Senate Journal. Northern Mariana Islands Senate. 17 (1). Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  9. ^ Limol, K-Andrea Evarose (January 12, 2021). "New Tinian senator: We all want a strong, resilient, self-sustainable NMI". Marianas Variety. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "Borja is new Senate president". 4 January 2016.
  11. ^ Eugenio, Haidee (October 2014). "CNMI heads for 3 elections in November". Islands Business. Retrieved 2023-06-09.

External links[edit]