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.

Incumbent Governor of American Samoa Lolo Matalasi Moliga was not eligible for reelection due to term limits. Instead, 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.

Incumbent delegate, Rep. Amata Coleman Radewagen, a Republican who had held the seat since 2015, was overwhelmingly re-elected to the United States House of Representatives for a fourth term.

Background

In November 2014 Amata Coleman Radewagen defeated 10-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Eni Faleomavaega in a crowded race for the seat. She won re-election to a third term in 2018.

Candidates

Governor

Gubernatorial candidates run on a non-partisan basis and as a slate together with their lieutenant governor candidate. Four political tickets qualified for the 2020 election. Although candidates do affiliate with national political parties, the gubernatorial election is held on a nonpartisan basis.

• Gaoteote Palaie Tofau, President of the American Samoa Senate Running mate: Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet, state senator
• 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
• Lemanu Peleti Mauga, Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa, affiliated with the Democratic Party Running mate: Salo Ale, former Attorney General of American Samoa
• 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

Not-qualified candidates

Fatumalala L. A. Al-Shehri, Independent candidate for American Samoa's at-large congressional district in 2012, 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, but they were not on the list of qualified candidates released by the American Samoa Election Office after the filing deadline.

Delegate

The deadline for candidates to file with the Election Office was September 1, 2020. Three candidates filed to run for election to American Samoa's lone seat in the United States House of Representatives by the official deadline, as determined by Chief Election Officer, Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei. A fourth candidate, Lealofi Seau, a retired member of the United States military, announced his candidacy in July 2020, but did not qualify for the ballot by the deadline.

Democratic

• Oreta Tufuga Mapu Crichton, former Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for the American Samoan Government (ASG) from 2015 to July 2020 Crichton resigned as CPO on July 17, 2020, to seek election as Delegate. She officially launched her campaign on September 12, 2020
• Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman, retired U.S. federal government employee Suitonu-Chapman launched her campaign in July 2020, marking her fourth campaign for Delegate to the U.S. House. She most recently ran for the office in 2018. Suitonu-Chapman announced her candidacy in San Diego, California, as COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented her from returning to American Samoa at the time, and she remained stranded on the United States mainland for the duration of the election.

Republican

• Amata Coleman Radewagen, incumbent Delegate in the United States House of Representatives Announced her intention to seek re-election in June 2020

Campaign

On January 25, 2019, Senator Nuanuaolefeagaiga announced his candidacy.

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

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

Results

Governor and lieutenant governor

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.

Fono House of Representatives

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.

Delegate

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

See also

• 2020 United States gubernatorial elections