Head of state and of government the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands
The following is a list of persons who served as governor ofNorthern Mariana Islands . The term of office is 4 years. The longest-serving governors in CNMI history arePedro Tenorio , who served 12 years in office from 1982 to 1990 and from 1998 to 2002, andBenigno Fitial , who served 7 years, one month, and 11 days from 2006 to 2013. The Northern Mariana Islands is one of the fewU.S. states or territories that currently does not have agovernor's mansion or otherofficial residence .
The current governor isDavid M. Apatang , since July 23, 2025.
Parties Democratic (2) Republican (7) Covenant (1) Independent (2)
Resident Commissioners [ edit ] No. Portrait Officeholder(Birth–Death) Took office Left office Party 1 Erwin Canham (1904–1982) July 19, 1975 January 9, 1978 Republican
No. Portrait Officeholder(Birth–Death) Elected Took office Left office Party 1 Carlos S. Camacho (born 1937) 1977 January 9, 1978 January 11, 1982 Democratic 2 Pedro Tenorio (1934–2018) 1981 1985
January 11, 1982 January 8, 1990 Republican 3 Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero (1935–2006) 1989 January 8, 1990 January 10, 1994 Republican 4 Froilan Tenorio (1939–2020) 1993 January 10, 1994 January 12, 1998 Democratic 5 Pedro Tenorio (1934–2018) 1997 January 12, 1998 January 14, 2002 Republican 6 Juan Babauta (born 1953) 2001 January 14, 2002 January 9, 2006 Republican 7 Benigno Fitial (born 1945) 2005 2009 [ a]
January 9, 2006 February 20, 2013 [ b] Covenant (2006–2011) [ c] Republican (2011–2013) 8 Eloy Inos (1949–2015) –2014
February 20, 2013 [ d] December 29, 2015 [ e] Covenant (2013) Republican (2013–2015) [ f] 9 Ralph Torres (born 1979) –2018
December 29, 2015 [ g] January 9, 2023 Republican 10 Arnold Palacios (1955–2025) 2022 January 9, 2023 July 23, 2025[ h] Independent (2023–2024) Republican (2024–2025) [ i] 11 David M. Apatang (born 1948) – July 23, 2025 [ j] Incumbent Independent
^ To shift governor elections to even-numbered years, the 2009 gubernatorial election was for a five-year term.[ 1] ^ Fitial resigned followingimpeachment by theHouse of Representatives and prior to likely conviction in animpeachment trial by theSenate .[ 2] [ 3] ^ Fitial switched his party affiliation from the Covenant Party to the Republican Party on January 5, 2011, while in office.[ 4] ^ Aslieutenant governor , Inos became governor following the resignation of Benigno Fitial.[ 2] [ 3] ^ Inos died on December 29, 2015, while in office.[ 5] [ 6] ^ Inos switched his party affiliation from the Covenant Party to the Republican Party in September 2013, while in office.[ 7] ^ Aslieutenant governor , Torres became governor following the death of Eloy Inos.[ 5] [ 6] ^ Palacios died on July 23, 2025, while in office.[ 8] ^ Palacios switched his party affiliation from Independent to the Republican Party in December 2024, while in office.[ 9] ^ Aslieutenant governor , Apatang became governor following the death of Arnold Palacios.[ 8] ^ Casas, Gemma (November 17, 2009)."Northern Marianas' election race heats up" .Radio Australia . RetrievedNovember 23, 2009 . ^a b Erediano, Emmanuel (February 21, 2013)."New Governor, Lt. Governor" .Marianas Variety Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. ^a b Eugenio, Haidee (March 2013)."Gov Benigno Fitial Steps Down, Eloy Inos Steps In: Dawn of a New Era for CNMI?" .Islands Business the original on April 5, 2014. ^ Eugenio, Haidee (January 8, 2011)."Fitial Now Back to Republican Party, Governor's End Goal to Merge Covenant with GOP" .Saipan Tribune the original on September 21, 2013. ^a b Chan, Dennis B. (December 30, 2015)."CNMI Mourns Inos' Death" .Saipan Tribune Archived from the original on December 29, 2015. ^a b Chan, Dennis B. (December 30, 2015)."Torres Becomes Governor; Hocog Is Lt. Gov" .Saipan Tribune Archived from the original on December 29, 2015. ^ Eugenio, Haidee (September 19, 2013)."Inos, Covenant Party Members Rejoining GOP" .Saipan Tribune the original on April 8, 2014. ^a b Erediano, Emmanuel T. (July 24, 2025)."Gov. Palacios passes away; Apatang assumes office" .Marianas Variety . RetrievedJuly 23, 2025 . ^ "Republican National Committee welcomes Governor-elect Pulaalii Nikolao Pula and Governor Arnold Palacios to the Republican Party" .KUAM Radio . RetrievedJuly 23, 2025 .
† - No official residence
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