Former Gov. Torres seeks Republican nomination for 2026 CNMI election

Ralph Torres

By Bryan Manabat

Saipan--Former Northern Marianas Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has formally announced his intent to run for governor in the 2026 election under the Republican Party.

In a Dec. 12 letter to the party’s executive committee, Torres said his decision followed “deep reflection and sincere consultation” with his family and supporters. He said his wife and children had given him their full support to pursue the responsibility of seeking office again.

Torres’ announcement comes just weeks after his former running mate, Vinnie Sablan, declared his own candidacy for governor under the Republican Party.

Sablan submitted his letter of intent to CNMI Republican Party President Patrick M. Cepeda on Nov. 10, and his candidacy was publicly reported on Nov. 13.

Sablan, a former senator and Senate floor leader, said his campaign would focus on economic revitalization, education, healthcare, cultural preservation, and restoring public trust in government.

Torres said he was also encouraged by youths, sports teams, fishermen, teachers, retirees, families, friends and members of the business community who urged him to run.

“Their faith in my leadership and their desire for meaningful change have played a significant role in my decision,” he wrote.

He pointed to what he described as one of the worst economic downturns in recent CNMI history, citing challenges faced by families, businesses, and government.

Torres said the Government Health and Life Insurance program for more than 7,000 employees and retirees is at risk, and retirees have received letters stating that 25 percent of their pensions will not be paid.

“This is not the future our children, government employees, and retirees deserve,” Torres said.

He added that he knows “what must be done to restore our economy,” including improving tourism, restoring airline services, and strengthening ties with the U.S. government to secure assistance. “I have done this work before, and I stand ready to do it again,” he said.

Torres said he could not “in good conscience” remain on the sidelines while the CNMI struggles. “I know I have the experience, relationships, and determination to help lift our Commonwealth out of this crisis,” he said.

The former governor emphasized his long-standing loyalty to the Republican Party and asked for its nomination. “I am able, ready, and willing to serve my people one last time,” he wrote.

Torres previously served as a lawmaker before entering the executive branch. He was elected to the CNMI House of Representatives in 2007 and later to the Senate in 2009, where he chaired the Health and Welfare Committee and became Senate president in 2013. He was elected lieutenant governor in 2014 and assumed the governorship in December 2015 following the death of Gov. Eloy Inos. Torres served as governor until January 2023.

Torres’s administration was marked by a series of scandals.

In January 2022, the CNMI House of Representatives impeached him on charges of corruption, misuse of public funds, and neglect of duty.

The Senate later acquitted him, allowing him to complete his term, but the proceedings left a lasting shadow over his leadership.

Torres and Sablan ran together in the 2022 general election as the Republican ticket but lost in the runoff to the Palacios–Apatang team, which went on to form the current administration.

Torres' critics frowned on his candidacy announcement.

Former Rep. Ed Propst, a Democrat and recent delegate candidate, objected to Torres’ bid, pointing to the corruption scandals and federal investigations that dogged his administration.

Propst, who was among the first lawmakers to call for Torres’ resignation during the impeachment proceedings, said the CNMI “cannot afford to return to the failed leadership of the past.”

With both Torres and Sablan seeking the Republican nomination, their announcements pave the way for a GOP primary that has yet to be scheduled. The winner will face the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The CNMI Republican Party is expected to consider both Torres’ and Sablan’s requests for nomination in the coming weeks.

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