3 CNMI gubernatorial teams file candidacy packets

In regional Decision 2022 news, all three gubernatorial slates in the Northern Marianas have officially filed their candidacies. Republicans Gov. Ralph Torres and his running mate Sen. Vinnie Sablan filed with the full GOP slate on Friday, making his re-election bid official after a bitter battle with the CNMI legislature regarding his impeachment by the House and acquittal in the Senate in May.

And for the first time in NMI history, two female candidates filed for governor and lt. governor -- Democrat House Representatives Tina Sablan and Leila Staffler waged their ticket also on Friday, mounting a challenge against a fractured republican party. The independent republican team also filed their candidacies ahead of the general election.

Lt. Gov. Arnold Palacios is vying for the governor's seat with his running-mate Saipan Mayor David Apatang. If none of the teams garner 50% of the vote plus 1 in the election, their will be a runoff election.