Governor of American Samoa
| American Samoa Governor | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Term limits: | 2 terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | American Samoa Constitution, Article IV, Section II |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Governor of American Samoa
Nikolao Pula | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 7, 2028 |
| Last election: | November 19, 2024 |
| Other American Samoa Executive Offices | |
| Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa | |
The Governor of the State of American Samoa is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest territory office in American Samoa. The governor is popularly elected every four years on a joint ticket with the lieutenant governor.[1]
Current officeholder
The current Governor of American Samoa is Nikolao Pula (R). Pula assumed office in 2025.
Authority
The American Samoa Constitution establishes the office of governor in Article IV, Executive Branch.
American Samoa Constitution, Article 4, Section 2
|
The Governor and the Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa shall, commencing with the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November 1977, be popularly elected and serve in accordance with the laws of American Samoa. |
Qualifications
In order to be eligible for the office of governor of American Samoa, a candidate must be:[2]
- Either a United States citizen or a United States national;
- a bona fide resident of American Samoa for 5 years immediately preceding the election; and
- at the time of assuming office, 35 years of age or older.
Elections
2024
General runoff election
General runoff election for Governor of American Samoa
Nikolao Pula defeated incumbent Lemanu Palepoi Mauga in the general runoff election for Governor of American Samoa on November 19, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan) | 59.8 | 5,846 |
 | Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan) | 40.2 | 3,925 | |
| Total votes: 9,771 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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General election
General election for Governor of American Samoa
Nikolao Pula and incumbent Lemanu Palepoi Mauga advanced to a runoff. They defeated Vaitautolu I'aulualo in the general election for Governor of American Samoa on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan) | 42.4 | 4,284 |
| ✔ | | Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan) | 36.2 | 3,660 |
 | Vaitautolu I'aulualo (Nonpartisan) | 21.4 | 2,169 | |
| Total votes: 10,113 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: American Samoa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020
General election
General election for Governor of American Samoa
Lemanu Palepoi Mauga defeated Gaoteote Palaie Tofau, I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia, and Nua Sao in the general election for Governor of American Samoa on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan) | 60.3 | 7,154 |
| Gaoteote Palaie Tofau (Nonpartisan) | 21.9 | 2,594 | ||
| I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia (Nonpartisan) | 12.3 | 1,461 | ||
| Nua Sao (Nonpartisan) | 5.5 | 652 | ||
| Total votes: 11,861 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Duties
The duties and privileges of the governor are outlined in Article IV of the American Samoa Constitution:
- The Secretary of Samoan Affairs shall be appointed by the Governor from among the leading registered matais. (§ 4)
- The Governor may summon the posse comitatus or call out the militia to prevent or suppress violence, invasion, insurrection, or rebellion. (§ 5)
- The Governor shall have the power to issue executive regulations not in conflict with laws of the United States applicable to American Samoa, laws of American Samoa, or with this Constitution. (§ 6)
- The Governor shall have general supervision and control of all executive departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the Government of American Samoa. (§ 7)
- The Governor shall make an official report of the transactions of the Government of American Samoa to the Secretary of the Interior and the Legislature within three months after the close of each fiscal year. (§ 8)
- The Governor shall have the power to remit fines and forfeitures, commute sentences, and grant reprieves and pardons after conviction for offenses against the laws of American Samoa. (§ 9)
- The Governor shall give the Legislature information on the state of the Government and recommend for its consideration such measures as he may deem necessary and expedient. He may attend or depute another person to represent him at the meetings of the Legislature, and may give expression to his views on any matter before that body. (§ 10)
- With the exception of elective officials, those appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, and those whose appointments are otherwise provided for, the officials of the Government of American Samoa including district, county, and village officials shall be appointed by the Governor. (§ 11)
- The Governor may appoint or remove any officer whose appointment is not otherwise provided for. All officers shall have such powers and duties as may be conferred or imposed upon them by law or by executive regulation of the Governor not inconsistent with any law. (§ 12)
- The Governor shall make provision for publishing laws within 55 days after the close of each session of the Legislature and for their distribution to public officials and sale to the public. (§ 13)
Divisions
- Historic Preservation Office
- Veteran's Affairs Office
- Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review & Federal Relations
- Office of Disaster Assistance and Petroleum Management
- Medicaid Office
- American Samoa Sports Complex
- American Samoa Office - Hawaii
Contact information
Office of the Governor
A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building
Third Floor, Utulei
Pago Pago, American Samoa, 96799
Phone: (684) 633-4116
Fax: (684) 633-2269[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 4," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 2," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior, "American Samoa Representative and Liaison Offices," accessed January 13, 2021
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