The following is a list of persons who served as governor of Northern Mariana Islands. The term of office is 4 years. The longest-serving governors in CNMI history are Pedro Tenorio, who served 12 years in office from 1982 to 1990 and from 1998 to 2002, and Benigno Fitial, who served 7 years, one month, and 11 days from 2006 to 2013. The Northern Mariana Islands is one of the few U.S. states or territories that currently does not have a governor's mansion or other official residence.
| Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands | |
|---|---|
Commonwealth seal | |
Incumbent since July 23, 2025David M. Apatang | |
| Residence | Juan A. Sablan Memorial Bldg. |
| Term length | 4 years single term, eligible for second. |
| Inaugural holder | Carlos S. Camacho |
| Formation | January 9, 1978 |
| Succession | Line of succession |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands |
| Website | governor |
The current governor is David M. Apatang, since July 23, 2025.
List
- Parties
Democratic (2) Republican (7) Covenant (1) Independent (2)
Resident Commissioners
| No. | Portrait | Officeholder (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erwin Canham (1904–1982) | July 19, 1975 | January 9, 1978 | Republican | ||
Governors
| 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 | January 9, 2006 | February 20, 2013 | Covenant (2006–2011) | ||
| Republican (2011–2013) | |||||||
| 8 | Eloy Inos (1949–2015) | – | February 20, 2013 | December 29, 2015 | Covenant (2013) | ||
| Republican (2013–2015) | |||||||
| 9 | Ralph Torres (born 1979) | – | December 29, 2015 | January 9, 2023 | Republican | ||
| 10 | Arnold Palacios (1955–2025) | 2022 | January 9, 2023 | July 23, 2025 | Independent (2023–2024) | ||
| Republican (2024–2025) | |||||||
| 11 | David M. Apatang (born 1948) | – | July 23, 2025 | Incumbent | Independent | ||
Succession
See also
Footnotes
- To shift governor elections to even-numbered years, the 2009 gubernatorial election was for a five-year term.
- Fitial resigned following impeachment by the House of Representatives and prior to likely conviction in an impeachment trial by the Senate.
- Fitial switched his party affiliation from the Covenant Party to the Republican Party on January 5, 2011, while in office.
- As lieutenant governor, Inos became governor following the resignation of Benigno Fitial.
- Inos died on December 29, 2015, while in office.
- Inos switched his party affiliation from the Covenant Party to the Republican Party in September 2013, while in office.
- As lieutenant governor, Torres became governor following the death of Eloy Inos.
- Palacios died on July 23, 2025, while in office.
- Palacios switched his party affiliation from Independent to the Republican Party in December 2024, while in office.
- As lieutenant governor, Apatang became governor following the death of Arnold Palacios.
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