TheGovernor of the State of American Samoa is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest territory office inAmerican Samoa. The governor is popularly elected every four years on a joint ticket with the lieutenant governor.^[1]

Current officeholder

The current Governor of American Samoa isNikolao Pula (R). Pula assumed office in 2025.

Authority

TheAmerican Samoa Constitution establishes the office of governor inArticle IV, Executive Branch.

American Samoa Constitution, Article 4, Section 2

Qualifications

In order to be eligible for the office of governor of American Samoa, a candidate must be:^[2]

• Either a United States citizen or a United States national;
• a bona fide resident of American Samoa for 5 years immediately preceding the election; and
• at the time of assuming office, 35 years of age or older.

Elections

2024

See also:American Samoa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024

General runoff election

General runoff election for Governor of American Samoa

Nikolao Pula defeated incumbentLemanu Palepoi Mauga in the general runoff election for Governor of American Samoa on November 19, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan)	59.8	5,846
		Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan)	40.2	3,925

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,771
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Governor of American Samoa

Nikolao Pula and incumbentLemanu Palepoi Mauga advanced to a runoff. They defeatedVaitautolu I'aulualo in the general election for Governor of American Samoa on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan)	42.4	4,284
✔		Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan)	36.2	3,660
		Vaitautolu I'aulualo (Nonpartisan)	21.4	2,169

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	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,113
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: American Samoa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020

General election

General election for Governor of American Samoa

Lemanu Palepoi Mauga defeatedGaoteote Palaie Tofau,I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia, andNua Sao in the general election for Governor of American Samoa on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan)	60.3	7,154
	Submit photo	Gaoteote Palaie Tofau (Nonpartisan)	21.9	2,594
	Submit photo	I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia (Nonpartisan)	12.3	1,461
	Submit photo	Nua Sao (Nonpartisan)	5.5	652

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	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 11,861
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Duties

The duties and privileges of the governor are outlined inArticle IV of theAmerican Samoa Constitution:

• The Secretary of Samoan Affairs shall be appointed by the Governor from among the leading registered matais. (§ 4)
• The Governor may summon the posse comitatus or call out the militia to prevent or suppress violence, invasion, insurrection, or rebellion. (§ 5)
• The Governor shall have the power to issue executive regulations not in conflict with laws of the United States applicable to American Samoa, laws of American Samoa, or with this Constitu­tion. (§ 6)
• The Governor shall have general supervision and control of all executive departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the Government of American Samoa. (§ 7)
• The Governor shall make an official report of the transactions of the Government of American Samoa to the Secre­tary of the Interior and the Legislature within three months after the close of each fiscal year. (§ 8)
• The Governor shall have the power to remit fines and for­feitures, commute sentences, and grant reprieves and pardons after conviction for offenses against the laws of American Samoa. (§ 9)
• The Governor shall give the Legislature information on the state of the Government and recommend for its consideration such measures as he may deem necessary and expedient. He may attend or depute another person to represent him at the meetings of the Legislature, and may give expression to his views on any matter before that body. (§ 10)
• With the exception of elective officials, those appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, and those whose appointments are otherwise provided for, the officials of the Government of American Samoa including district, county, and village officials shall be appointed by the Gov­ernor. (§ 11)
• The Governor may appoint or remove any officer whose appointment is not otherwise provided for. All officers shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred or imposed upon them by law or by executive regu­lation of the Governor not inconsistent with any law. (§ 12)
• The Governor shall make provision for publishing laws within 55 days after the close of each session of the Legislature and for their distribution to public officials and sale to the public. (§ 13)

Divisions

• Historic Preservation Office
• Veteran's Affairs Office
• Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review & Federal Relations
• Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management
• Medicaid Office
• American Samoa Sports Complex
• American Samoa Office - Hawaii

Contact information

Office of the Governor
A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building
Third Floor, Utulei
Pago Pago, American Samoa, 96799
Phone: (684) 633-4116
Fax: (684) 633-2269^[3]

See also

• Governors
• American Samoa executive offices

External links

Suggest a link

• Office of the Governor

Footnotes

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