They’re fresh from their party’s near-sweep of Guam’s 2024 elections, and now more influential than they have been in a while. All three of Guam’s surviving former Republican governors met today at Longhorn Steakhouse in Tamuning, and pictures of their meeting are causing quite a stir.
Here are some things to consider:
- Joseph Ada, Felix Camacho, and Eddie Calvo represent nearly every faction of the Republican Party of Guam.
- They rarely are seen together in public.
- Election campaigns for governor generally begin the day the Guam Election Commission certifies the results of the preceding mid-term election.
- The Guam Election Commission at 1 a.m. today certified the results of the 2024 General Election.
Kandit messaged Mr. Camacho for comment on his lunch meeting with the other two former governors. He has not replied as of the publication of this article.
Will one of them make a run for a third term? Are they gathered to promote a younger candidate?
Is that candidate Tony Ada, the senator-elect? The open secret that Mr. Ada is running for governor in 2026 can be confirmed by scores, if not hundreds, of Republicans who already have been approached to build the grassroots organization any serious candidate would need to win. The incoming vice speaker and powerful Rules Committee chairman is connected to all three former governors. He is related to former Governor Ada. He worked in former Governor Calvo’s senior staff. And he ran with former Governor Camacho in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
But Mr. Ada isn’t the only name floating out there.
Businessman Charlie Hermosa is the only announced candidate for governor aside from Democrat Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio.
Then there are the rumors that former Lieutenant Governor Michael Cruz, who served under Mr. Camacho’s second term, will be making a run with Jesse Lujan, a senator. Another name rising in the Republican gubernatorial field: Attorney General Douglas Moylan.
The seeming excitement among Republicans to retake Adelup in 2026 is palpable, and the timing of this meeting of the three governors is no coincidence. Aside from the afterglow of their 2024 near-sweep, the future of the Democratic Party of Guam is growing uncertain.
Reliable source reports from several unconnected witnesses to crimes allegedly involving those closest to Mr. Tenorio are fueling anticipation of his campaign sinking before it even sets sail. Then there is the analysis by local elections expert Ron McNinch, who has proven his detractors wrong time and again.
In his most recent op-ed titled “One Election Away,” the university professor lamented Democrat Speaker Therese Terlaje and Senator Chris Barnett’s handling of the current legislature and education policy. He gave this omen about the legislature’s two most popularly elected members:
“Senator Terlaje and Senator Barnett were simply wrong for crying foul on the Governor working to open the schools. All senators are just one election away from going from first to worst. Even bullet voting will not work when the public is against you.”
The two are widely rumored to be running for governor and lieutenant governor in 2026. Remarkably, an observer might reasonably surmise that their chances of winning Adelup became that much stronger following news of their potential primary opponent’s demise due to a federal investigation into Pandemic Unemployment Assistance fraud.
But even if Mr. Tenorio did pull out of the race or is forced to resign from office in disgrace, that doesn’t mean a Terlaje-Barnett ticket would sail into the 2026 General Election. The Democrats are just way too fractured for that. The sudden public exposure of former Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. is a tell tale sign of Adelup ambition. Then there is a growing rumor of alliance between Senators Joe San Agustin and Tina Muna Barnes, both of whom are highly likeable and can bring together several factions of their party, along with Republicans. And don’t ever count out the only other surviving former governor: Carl Gutierrez.
Mr. Gutierrez owes no loyalty to the current administration that did nothing publicly to defend his honor after coming under attack from several Guam businessmen. As for his age, don’t be deceived. Most elected officials appear to be lazy, lethargic, and stupid compared to the former governor.
And then there’s a wild card who should be taken seriously, considering just how well her first-time run went in all aspects but victory: Ginger Cruz.
Will Mike San Nicolas return to the public scene as an independent?
The smartest thing the Republicans can do is to rally behind a singular ticket for governor and lieutenant governor.
Perhaps, that’s what today’s meeting of the three governors was about.
4 Comments
Ti’bisnesmu
11/22/2024 at 2:20 AM
And this is how rumors start! Only on Guam!
Forgotten
11/22/2024 at 4:01 PM
IT’S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING ELECTION 2026. CAN’T WAIT.
John Henry Biden
11/26/2024 at 10:41 AM
What about Telo and Joann?
Alan San Nicolas
11/27/2024 at 6:15 PM
Na’i chansa I pomalu. Esta en chagi mu magalahi (aka governor). Mungnga yu ni bihu taigue si trump. Fan deskasa gi papa trokon pago.