Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In the lead-up to the 2024 U.S. elections, leaders from U.S. territories began discussions on how their communities can participate in the political process.

A virtual dialogue hosted by the Right to Democracy on Oct. 25 explored ways to better engage voters from Guam, the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as part of a larger effort to mobilize these communities and advocate for their unique issues in American politics.

Angelo Villagomez, an environmental organizer from the Northern Marianas, and James Servino, a human rights advocate from Guam, shared insights into the complexities and challenges of representing small, dispersed communities.

Other speakers offered context on social, economic and political issues impacting the territories.

Villagomez and Servino noted how residents from U.S. territories often feel overlooked in broader U.S. political conversations, despite their unique status and contributions to American culture and policy.

Territorial residents cannot vote in presidential elections and lack voting representation in Congress, leaving them largely absent from the federal policymaking.

[Editor’s note: While American Samoa’s delegate cannot vote on the House floor, our delegate is authorized to vote in committee. The current delegate, Aumua Amata’s committees are: Veteran’s Affairs, House Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs.]

Villagomez noted that Pacific Islanders are often categorized within the Asian American and Pacific Islander or AAPI group, an umbrella term that he feels can dilute their identity and overlook their specific needs.

"We often get swept up in the larger AAPI label, but when it comes time to actually discuss our issues, we're not at the table," he said. "During AAPI month, there are panels and discussions, but too often, we’re invited to the conversation but still feel unseen."

Villagomez noted that this lack of representation leaves Pacific Islanders feeling invisible within their own political category, contributing to a sense of disconnection and lack of engagement in U.S. political processes.

Servino echoed Villagomez’s concerns, adding that visibility issues persist even within advocacy and legislative circles, where Pacific Islanders' issues receive low priority.

Having worked with the Human Rights Campaign on the mainland and in Guam, Servino sees the potential for territories to unite under a common agenda but emphasizes the need for a better political framework that addresses their unique needs.

The cross-territorial dialogue highlighted the need for greater unity and cooperation across the territories to achieve policy changes that could enhance representation.

The organizers believe such a unified approach will ensure that the unique issues faced by each territory are elevated in the national discourse, particularly as they relate to U.S. policies on immigration, climate change, healthcare and economic investment.

Villagomez explained how such cooperation could play out in practice. “We’re talking about a very small group of people who share common struggles, particularly around healthcare, climate impacts and economic disparities,” he said. “Working together to raise awareness of these issues on the mainland can turn our small numbers into a meaningful voice.”

Villagomez and Servino agreed that advocating for self-determination is central to their mission.

Villagomez, who has focused his organizing work on environmental issues, observed that many people from the territories don’t feel represented in the larger political structure of the U.S.

"Whether you're Chamoru, Samoan or Puerto Rican, we don’t see ourselves in the narratives that are often presented during campaign season,” he said. “This is why we have to start organizing ourselves, educating our community on what’s at stake.”

One important aspect of the conversation was the need for the territories to reclaim and redefine their own narratives within the U.S. political system.

Servino emphasized that empowering Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. involves recognizing their history and ongoing contributions.

“We need to tell our stories,” he said. “When we talk about military bases or natural resources, those conversations are happening because our islands are valuable to the U.S. It’s time we make sure our voices are part of that conversation too.”

The participants recommended actionable steps to help the territories gain greater representation.

Villagomez and Servino suggested collecting better data on Pacific Islander communities and diaspora populations.

"If we had clearer data on where we are and our numbers, it would be much easier to organize and advocate for our needs," said Villagomez.

He noted that current census categories and federal data collection methods often lump territories into larger groups, making it difficult to identify and address the specific challenges facing Pacific Islanders.