Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As early as 4 pm, local time, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, United States elections became historic, with the projected win of the first Black woman as governor in the state of Georgia and Roy Cooper as a Democrat Senator in North Carolina — both flipping Republican seats, ringing in what was seen by the Democratic Party to be the beginning of the Blue Wave, later classifying election results as a Blue Tsunami.

In contrast, American Samoa voters went quietly and calmly to the polls on Tuesday, for midterm elections. Local midterm elections are only for local House Representatives (faipule) and to select a US Congressional Representative.

And, with no political parties involved in local races, only candidates, including the US Congressional race, it was peaceful. It should be noted though that  incumbent US Congresswoman Aumua Amata is identified as belonging to the Republican Party. 

Typically, most of the energy and drive of local midterm elections occur at the village/ district level, with billboards playing a huge part in announcing to the public who is running in both the House and Congressional races, but campaigning is very much grassroots and on the ground.

For the House of Representatives, or lower house of the Fono, all 21 members are elected every two years. This includes the Swains Island representative seat that used to be a non-voting seat, but in 2025 became a fully voting rights seat after a territory-wide referendum was passed in November 2022. This set in motion a series of legislative actions that led to federal recognition of the amendment, giving the Swains faipule full voting rights.

For the US Congressional seat, it is a non-voting seat, with a two-year election cycle. The seat is funded by the US federal government; while, local House seats are funded with local funds. There were 5 candidates for the US Congressional seat, of which four were women. A sixth candidate sadly passed away while running, the late High Chief Samana Semo Veavea. Our condolences go out to the family.

Senators are not elected in American Samoa. They are each chosen by their district leadership, or by their peers, who are those holding chiefly hereditary titles that belong to their particular district. Notions of senate seats becoming subject to general elections has been discussed by the public, however, it has not become a solidified movement.

This year’s local elections basically held no surprises, with seven of the 21 faipule running unopposed. Unlike the US midterms that saw a very high voter turnout due to the country’s high cost of living, as well as what the people perceive as rampant corruption, including self-enrichment by the US President and his family.

Local Election officials reported that approximately 50 percent of the territory's 14,024 registered voters participated in Tuesday's election.

The vote-counting process moved swiftly, with results from all 40 polling stations received by the Election Office before 9 p.m.

NOTABLE MENTIONS

Voters returned most sitting lawmakers to office across the territory, including the Speaker and Vice Speaker of the House. Both men are expected to again run for their House positions.

Uifaatali Aumua Amata was re-elected for her 7th consecutive term — but, she will be returning to a US Congress that will now be controlled by the Democrats. On the positive side, she has touted bipartisanship, pointing out she has always looked out for the people of American Samoa, and worked with Democrats to help the Territory.

According to the unofficial results released by the Election Office, Amata received 4,215 votes, representing 60.7 percent of the 6,948 ballots cast in the congressional race.

Her closest challenger, Sandra King-Young, who was making her first run for Congress, earned 2,169 votes, or 31.2 percent of the vote. Another first-time candidate, Tuifagaloa Dr. Afu Lefaoseu, finished third with 316 votes (4.5 percent).

Fualaau Rosie Tago-Lancaster received 140 votes (2 percent), while Meleagi Suitonu Chapman garnered 108 votes (1.6 percent).

Another closely watched contest occurred in Sua #2, District 6, covering Afono, Masefau, Masausi, and Sailele, where incumbent Matagaono Vaimaga Maiava narrowly retained his seat by the slimmest of margins. Maiava defeated challenger Avaolagi Ta'atiatia I. Mata'utia Sua by a single vote, 124 to 123.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Faipule Re-elected
    •    Fetui Fetu Jr. & Vala Porotesano Liusamoa- Manu’a District #1
    •    Tiaoalii Fauagiga Sai- Manu’a District #2
    •    Shaun Onosai Vaa- District #3 Vaifanua
    •    Dr. Va’asa Simanu- District #4
    •    Luaitaua Gene Pan- Sua #1
    •    Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava- Sua #2 — ran unopposed
    •    Vailoata Eteuati Amituanai- Maoputasi #1 — ran unopposed
    •    Malaeoletalu Melesio Gurr- Maoputasi #2 — ran unopposed
    •    Trude Ledoux Sunia- Pago — ran unopposed
    •    Faimealelei Anthony Allen- Maoputasi #5
    •    Manumaua Wayne Wilson & Sauasetoa Soliai Ho Ching- Ituau
    •    Fiu Johnny Saelua- Fofo District — ran unopposed
    •    Savali Talavou Ale- Alataua
    •    Fagaima Larry Sanitoa & Ben Vaomu Solomona Sauvao- Tualauta
    •    Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase- Tualatai — ran unopposed
    •    Ape Mike Asifoa- Leasina

NEWLY ELECTED

 One veteran lawmaker did not make it back to House.
In Ma'oputasi #4, District 10, which includes the villages of Atu'u, Leloaloa, and Satala, newcomer Saena Omar Shalhout scored a convincing victory with 132 votes, defeating incumbent Tapai Alailepule Ben Vaivao, who received only 28 votes. The third candidate in the race, Talali Perry T. Loloaso Wightman-Uia placed second with 64 votes.

CHALLENGES

Candidates or voters have until November 10th to file a challenge in the High Court to contest the election results.

SWAINS ISLAND ELECTION

The Swains Island election for their faipule has not happened yet. It is decided in a meeting of Swains Island voters, which is expected to be scheduled sometime this month, according to the Election Office.

Su’a Alexander Jennings is the incumbent, and it is expected that he will be elected again.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

The Election Office will release official results after certification of election results.