KUAM.com-KUAM News: On Air. Online. On Demand.CNMI Democrats reorganize

CNMI Democrats reorganize

The CNMI Democratic Party reorganized in their first meeting since the November election where they took seven seats across the legislature and congress, but lost the gubernatorial race. Here's the latest with the campaign road ahead as the NMI delegate calls for his seat to remain blue. 

Del. Gregorio Sablan said, "I think we need to start moving again because those of us in Congress are starting to organize to retake the House, keep the Senate,and get President Biden elected to another 4 years in the White House."

Sablan, the top Democrat in the NMI, opening the local party's first meeting since the November election, where two of its members were elected to the senate and four to the House.  "We need to make sure that this delegate position remains in a Democratic Caucus in Congress. And there remains so much we need to get done," he said.

The delegate highlighting his work with Governor Arnold Palacios to address the CNMI's deficit. The democrats aligning themselves with independents to defeat republicans and gain a new local coalition majority. Former Democratic candidate for Lt. governor Leila Staffler was appointed to the new cabinet as the labor secretary after they inked a unity pledge during the run off. 

Leila Staffler, Secretary of Labor, CNMI, said, "I feel that a lot of the moves that have been making are moves that Tina and I probably would have made ourselves with their directives and cost cutting measures and different ways to try to stop the bleeding with respect to government spending."

The party elected over 20 members to its central executive committee, which is expected to elect new party leadership soon.  Chairman of the Democratic Party of the NMI Jonathan Cabrera added, "Today we look forward to the next election, and the one after that, and the one after that."

The CNMI's first governor, Dr. Carlos Camacho, also looking ahead said, "I like to think that the Independents are with us, but I do not know what is going to happen in the next election...so we are going to have to work harder."