Dave Apatang | |
|---|---|
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| 11thGovernor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
| Assumed office July 23, 2025 | |
| Lieutenant | Dennis C. Mendiola |
| Preceded by | Arnold Palacios |
| 13thLieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
| In office January 9, 2023 – July 23, 2025 | |
| Governor | Arnold Palacios |
| Preceded by | Arnold Palacios |
| Succeeded by | Dennis C. Mendiola |
| Mayor ofSaipan | |
| In office January 12, 2015 – January 8, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Marian Tudela |
| Succeeded by | Ramon Camacho |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Mundo Apatang (1948-07-10)July 10, 1948 (age 77) |
| Party | Republican (before 2021) Independent (2021–present) |
| Spouse | Antonia Pangelinan Mafnas (died 2016) |
| Education | San Francisco State University (BA) |
| Website | Office website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1967–1987 |
| Rank | First Sergeant |
David Mundo Apatang (born July 10, 1948)[1][2] is a Northern Mariana Islander politician who is currently serving as the 11thgovernor of the Northern Mariana Islands.
He previously served as the 13thlieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from January 2023 to July 2025, and as mayor ofSaipan from January 2015 to January 2023. As aRepublican, Apatang used to serve in theNorthern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.[3] Apatang was elected lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the2022 election on an independent ticket headed byArnold Palacios.[4] He assumed the governorship following the death of Palacios on July 23, 2025.[5]
While in the Army, Apatang earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and communications fromSan Francisco State University.
Apatang[6] served in theUnited States Army from 1967 to 1987.[7] AVietnam War veteran, Apatang was stationed at various times inVietnam; thePanama Canal Zone;Würzburg, Germany;Fort Lewis inWashington;Fort Benjamin Harrison inIndiana; andFort Jackson inSouth Carolina. He ended his career at Fort Jackson and served on itscourts-martial council. He retired with the rank offirst sergeant in 1987.[8]
Following his military service, Apatang served in local government. He served seven consecutive terms in theNorthern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.[7]
Atapang was elected to theNorthern Mariana Islands House of Representatives in the 1995 general election. He was the second highest vote-getter in Saipan's Precinct 1.[9] Apatang ran for the Senate in 2001 on behalf of theCovenant Party in theNorthern Mariana Islands Senate's 3rd district.[10] In the2005 gubernatorial election, Apatang ran forLieutenant Governor as the running mate ofHeinz Hofschneider. While both Hofschneider and Apatang were Republicans, they ran asindependents.[11] In a four-way race, the Hofschneider–Apatang ticket lost toBenigno Fitial andTimothy Villagomez of theCovenant Party by a single point.[12]
Shortly after the death ofDonald Flores, the mayor of Saipan, Apatang announced his candidacy for the position.[6] Apatang, running as an independent, defeated Republican candidate Jose Alguto Reyes and Democratic candidate Antonio Pinaula Mareham in the 2014 general election.[13] Apatang succeededMarian Tudela, the acting Mayor appointed after Flores's death.[14] He was sworn in on January 12, 2015[15] and served two terms, ending on January 9, 2023.[16] His wife, Antonia Pangelinan Mafnas, died inHawaii on December 14, 2016.[8][17] In 2021, the House passed a resolution to honor Apatang's 50 years of service to the people of the CNMI.[16]
Apatang ran as a candidate forLieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the2022 election, running on an independent ticket headed by then incumbent lieutenant governorArnold Palacios.[4] They won 54.14% of the votes in the second round, defeating the incumbent Republican governor and the resurgent Democratic Party candidates. Apatang was sworn into office on January 9, 2023.
Apatang became thegovernor of the Northern Mariana Islands after GovernorArnold Palacios died on July 23, 2025.[18]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor ofSaipan 2015–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands 2025–present | Incumbent | |
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