Ralph Torres | |
|---|---|
 Torres in 2021 | |
| 9thGovernor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
| In office December 29, 2015 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Lieutenant | Victor Hocog Arnold Palacios |
| Preceded by | Eloy Inos |
| Succeeded by | Arnold Palacios |
| 10thLieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
| In office January 11, 2015 – December 29, 2015 | |
| Governor | Eloy Inos |
| Preceded by | Jude Hofschneider |
| Succeeded by | Victor Hocog |
| President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate | |
| In office February 20, 2013 – January 12, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jude Hofschneider |
| Succeeded by | Victor Hocog |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (1979-08-06)August 6, 1979 (age 46) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Diann Mendiola Tudela |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Boise State University(BA) |
Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (born August 6, 1979) is a Northern Marianan politician, who served as the ninthgovernor of the Northern Mariana Islands, from December 29, 2015, to January 9, 2023. He is aRepublican fromSaipan,Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The third longest-serving governor in CNMI history, Torres took office upon the death of GovernorEloy Inos on December 29, 2015, before being reelected as governor in his own right in2018. He previously served as the tenthlieutenant governor, having been elected to that post in2014.[1]
Torres was born on August 6, 1979, to aChamorro family inGarapan, then part of theTrust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Torres's father was a government field officer and Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) dispatcher, while his mother was a teacher at William S. Reyes Elementary School. Growing up, Torres lived with his parents and five siblings in a one-story house inKoblerville built by the family.[2]
Torres's family would later move toBoise, Idaho, where he would attendBoise High School, graduating in 1996. He received a B.S. in political science fromBoise State University in 2001.[3] In 2004, he began to work with his brothers at Torres Brothers, Attorneys at Law.
In 2007, Torres won election to theNorthern Mariana Islands House of Representatives as the top vote getter in District 1.In 2009, he won election to theNorthern Mariana Islands Senate, acting in a variety of roles. From 2010 to 2015 he was chairman of the Health & Welfare Committee. In February 2013, he became the president of the Senate.[3]
In the2014 gubernatorial election, Torres was elected lieutenant governor on the Republican Party ticket headed byEloy Songao Inos,[1] and was sworn in on January 12, 2015.
Upon the death of incumbent governor Eloy Inos, Torres became thegovernor of the Northern Mariana Islands on December 29, 2015.[4][5] In accordance with theconstitution, the Senate president,Victor Hocog, became lieutenant governor.[6] In the2018 gubernatorial election, Torres and his running mateArnold Palacios won a full term, defeating former governorJuan Babauta and Rita Sablan ticket.
As governor, Torres approved a bill, public law 19-42, that adds a $1,000excise tax on pistol purchases, this is the highest tax on pistols sales in the US.[7] However, this excessive tax was later ruled as unconstitutional according to the United States Constitution and overturned by theUnited States District Court.[8]
On September 21, 2018, Torres signed into law theTaulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act, stating: "Today, our people made history. We took a stand to legalize marijuana in the CNMI for recreational, medical, and commercial use."[9]
Torres announced his intention to run for reelection in the2022 gubernatorial election withterritorial senatorVinnie Sablan as his running-mate.[10] He lost to his incumbent lieutenant governorArnold Palacios while under indictment.
Torres and his wife, First Lady Diann Torres, were criticized for costing the government $24,297 on a trip toMontana. The trip, conducted from June 23 to July 2, 2017, involved stops in bothOregon andIdaho.[11] In February 2018,Bloomberg Businessweek reported that Torres and his family have received millions of dollars in payments fromHong Kong-basedImperial Pacific casino.[12]
On November 7, 2019, theFBI executed a search and seizure warrant to raid Torres's office, home, and car as well as his brothers' law firm and various other businesses across Saipan for evidence of wire fraud, schemes to defraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and illegal campaign contributions.[13]
In November 2019, theNorthern Mariana Islands House of Representatives called for theimpeachment of Torres amid an ongoing investigation by theFBI into his businesses.[14] Torres faced further impeachment backlash with growing evidence of the misuse of local funds that violated CNMI procurement laws.[15][16]On 11 January 2022, Ralph Torres became the second governor to have been impeached in the CNMI's history.[17]In May 2022, Torres was acquitted of all charges by the Senate in hisimpeachment trial.[18]
Torres was indicted for misconduct in public office in April 2022. His trial was originally set for July 5, 2022,[19] but was delayed.[20]
On March 11, 2016, Torres endorsed frontrunnerDonald Trump in the2016 Republican presidential primary.[21] Torres reiterated his support for Trump in thegeneral election following theAccess Hollywood controversy.[22]
Following the victory of DemocratJoe Biden in the2020 presidential election, Torres congratulated the president-elect, while also praising Trump for his "commitment and support for the people of the Northern Mariana Islands". He added that the outgoing president "delivered time and time again for our people" through measures such as NMI U.S. Workforce Act of 2018, and praised Trump's response to theSuper Typhoon Yutu.
Torres has six children with his wife, the former Diann Mendiola Tudela: Ralph Anthony, Vaniqa Marie, Deon Titus, Tristan Dane, Divannie and Ryan.[3] Torres is ofChamorro ancestry.
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands 2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands 2015–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of the Northern Mariana Islands 2018,2022 | Most recent |
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