2010 American Samoan general election
General elections were held in American Samoa on November 2, 2010.[1] The deadline to register as a candidate for the election was September 1, 2010.[1]
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Voters in American Samoa chose the 20 elected members of the American Samoa House of Representatives.[1] Voters also cast their ballots for the federal Delegate to the United States House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., and proposed revisions to the American Samoan Constitution.[1]
Incumbent Eni Faleomavaega of the Democratic Party, who had held the seat since 1989, was re-elected as the U.S. House delegate.
American Samoa House of Representatives
Voters chose 20 elected members of the American Samoa House of Representatives.[1] Six incumbent representatives lost their re-election bids.[2]
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives
All elections in American Samoa are officially non-partisan, though candidates do identify with a particular political party. Three candidates sought election for Delegate to the U.S. House in 2010.[3]
Incumbent Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, who identifies with the Democratic Party, is seeking re-election.[3] He was re-elected in the 2008 House election with 60% of the vote.
Amata Coleman Radewagen, American Samoa's Republican National Committeewoman who has challenged Faleomavaega in the past, ran again for the seat.[4]
Tuika Tuika, an accountant and former candidate for Governor of American Samoa in the 2008 gubernatorial election, is the third candidate in the election.[3]
In early February 2010, independent Fualaau Rosie Tago Lancaster had announced that she would seek second bid to become American Samoa's delegate to the United States House.[3][5] Lancaster announced that she will run on a platform promising an emphasis on Veterans issues, better communication and transportation links with the Manu'a Islands, education, healthcare and economic development.[5] Lancaster came in third in the 2008 House election, receiving 5% of the popular vote. However, she did not appear on the general election ballot in November.[4]
Faleomavaega was elected for a twelfth two-year term in office, taking 6,895 ballots, or 56% of the vote.[4]
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eni Faleomavaega | Democratic Party | 6,176 | 56.29 | |
| Amata Coleman Radewagen | Republican Party | 4,438 | 40.45 | |
| Tuika Tuika | Independent | 357 | 3.25 | |
| Total | 10,971 | 100.00 | ||
| Source: Samoa News[4] | ||||
Referendum
Voters decided if the amendments and revisions to the Constitution of American Samoa which were proposed at the 2010 Constitutional Convention should be adopted.[1] The government announced how many new amendments to the Constitution would be presented to the territory's voters.[1]
Voters strongly rejected the proposed amendments to the Constitution, with 7,660 (70.17%) voting against the changes to 3,257 (29.83%) who voted yes.[6] Voters rejected the amendments to the Constitution in all 17 electoral districts of American Samoa as well as in the absentee ballot poll.[6]
References
- "American Samoa's Chief Election Officer announces general election date". Radio New Zealand. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- "American Samoans choose Faleomavaega to return to US Congress". RNZ. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- "Prospective lawmakers in American Samoa revealed". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
- Sagapolutele, Fili (2010-11-03). "Faleomavaega wins unprecedented 12th consecutive term". Samoa News. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
- "Lancaster to make second bid for American Samoa seat in DC". Radio New Zealand International. 2010-01-09. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
- Fili Sagapolutele (November 3, 2010). "Voters strongly reject constitutional revisions". Samoa News. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2010.