The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas will hold a run-off election for governor because none of the candidates secured a majority.
The leading candidates after the first round are Heinz Hofschneider of the Republican Party and the incumbent,
Fitial Benigno of the Covenant Party.
Two independent candidates, Juan Guerrero and Ramon DeLeon Guerrero, are out of the contest.
Our correspondent, Mark Rabago, reports:
"Mr Hofschneider had an eight vote win against Mr Fitial. But since we had this initiative a few years ago that says any candidate for governor who fails to have 50 percent of the vote plus one will be required to have a run off, which means the top two candidates will have to take it out two weeks after the election commission certifies the result of the general election."
Mark Rabago
