Dems tout blue wave, signal support for Galvin in delegate race

The Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands touted a political resurgence heading into the Nov. 3 general elections, with party chair Annie Pickelsimer and vice chair Steve Woodruff talking up the Democrats' prospects Saturday night before independent delegate candidate Galvin Deleon Guerrero was given the floor to make his case for Washington, D.C.

The Democrats held their candidate meet-and-greet last Aug. 29 at Morae Kitchen & Bar, where Pickelsimer said the turnout exceeded the party's expectations.

"It's awesome. I mean, you know, we didn't expect this turnout, but it looks like the people are waking up and giving us the chance to prove to ourselves that our candidates are the candidates for the future," Pickelsimer said.

"They are ready to serve the people," she added.

The Democratic slate includes incumbent Sen. Celina Roberto Babauta for Senate District 3; Ricardo Castro Cruz Jr. for House Precinct 1; incumbent Rep. Denita Pialur Kaipat Yangetmai and Gabriel Boki Babauta for House Precinct 3; and Leila Fleming Staffler and Peter Francis Reyes Muña for House Precinct 5.

Woodruff portrayed the gathering as evidence that the Democratic Party has regained political strength in the CNMI after years in which Republicans dominated Commonwealth politics.

"The Democratic Party in the CNMI right now is stronger than it's ever been for a long time," Woodruff said.

"We may not have that many, but we make up for lack of quantity with the very highest quality," he added.

Woodruff also weighed in on the gubernatorial race, noting that the Democrats do not have a candidate for governor this election and making clear whom he does not want to see win.

"We do have somebody that says that they're a Republican candidate for governor. And we have a couple of independent candidates," Woodruff said.

"And the one thing I have to say about that is let's make darn sure that it's not that so-called Republican candidate," he added.

Pickelsimer, however, said the party has not endorsed either of the independent gubernatorial tickets and has already received an endorsement request from independent gubernatorial candidate Lawrence Camacho.

"We already received the letter of Lawrence Camacho asking for endorsement," Pickelsimer said. "But with respect for both parties, we're going to wait until after the election, and then we'll go from there," she added.

Asked whether she meant the party would wait for a possible runoff, Pickelsimer said: "So let the best team win, and we'll support whoever wins."

While the Democrats are holding off on an endorsement in the gubernatorial contest, the party's position in the race for CNMI delegate to the U.S. House appeared considerably clearer Saturday night.

Although Deleon Guerrero is running as an independent, Democratic speakers repeatedly invoked his candidacy during the gathering, and Woodruff went so far as to refer to him as "our independent Democrat, Galvin, for Congress."

Pickelsimer stopped short of saying the party had formally endorsed Deleon Guerrero.

"We appreciate him joining our group, coming to our meet and greet, so we'll just leave it there," Pickelsimer said.

Asked whether an endorsement was not official but was heading in that direction, she replied: "Going there, not official. We haven't officially endorsed him."

"We respect his decision, and if he's ready, he will come to us and approach us," Pickelsimer added.

The distinction leaves Deleon Guerrero as an independent candidate, but Saturday night's program and comments from Democratic leaders appeared to position him as the party's de facto choice in the delegate contest, absent a formal endorsement.

Deleon Guerrero was subsequently given the floor and used his speech to center his campaign on the Covenant and what he believes the CNMI's delegate should do in Washington, D.C.

"A promise is sacred," Deleon Guerrero said.

"And when I think about the job of the delegate, I think the most important thing the delegate must do is to protect, uphold, and help fulfill that sacred promise," he said.

Deleon Guerrero said the delegate should carry the Commonwealth's voice to Washington rather than serve as Washington's voice in the CNMI.

"You don't lecture us about how Washington works. You help Washington understand how we work," he said. "And in many ways, Washington is not working for us."

"And that's what I pledge to do as your next delegate," Deleon Guerrero said. "I will go to Washington to fight for you. I will go to Washington to be your voice for you."

Despite the warm reception, Woodruff's description of him as "our independent Democrat," and Pickelsimer acknowledging that an endorsement was "going there," Deleon Guerrero had no comment when later asked by media about the apparent Democratic support for his candidacy.