2008 Palauan general election

Presidential candidates

Primary elections were held on 23 September, with two candidates progressing to the general election in November. Four candidates registered for the primary elections:

• Elias Camsek Chin – The incumbent Vice-President was seeking a promotion to the Palauan presidency. His running mate was Senator Alan R. Seid.
• Johnson Toribiong – He is the current Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan), and he was running with Delegate Kerai Mariur.
• Surangel S. Whipps – He is the President of the Senate and his running mate was Billy Kuartei, the Chief of Staff for President Remengesau.
• Joshua Koshiba – He is a Senator and his running mate was Governor of Peleliu Jackson Ngiraingas.

Campaign

All four presidential candidates and their running mates held rallies throughout Palau. Campaigning also took place in overseas Palauan communities in the mainland United States, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

A total of 43 candidates ran for the thirteen seats in the Senate, while 44 candidates contested the sixteen seats in the House of Delegates. A record ten women were competing for seats in the Senate and House of Delegates, with seven women running for the at large Senate race.

Results

President

Elias Chin and Johnson Toribiong were the top two vote-getters in the primary elections. Chin and Toribiong then faced each other in the general election. In early, preliminary results Toribiong held a 130-vote lead over Chin, with 1,629 votes to Chin's 1,499. Toribiong and his running mate, Kerai Mariur, were declared the winner of the election on 7 November. It was reported that Toribiong had received a concession phone call from Vice-President Chin.

Senate

Surangel Whipps, Jr. made history by becoming the first Senator to win by write-in. He also received the highest percentage (65%) of votes of any senatorial candidate since his father achieved 73.5% of the vote.

Elected members

1. Surangel Whipps Jr. (6,461)
2. Raynold Oilouch (6,073)
3. Mlib Tmetuchl (5,360)
4. Joel Toribiong (5,086)
5. Katharine Kesolei (4,947)
6. Mark U. Rudimch (4,891)
7. Hokkons Baules (4,437)
8. Adalbert Eledui (3,934)
9. Regina Mesebeluu(3,731)
10. Alfonso N. Diaz (3,603)
11. Tommy Remengesau Jr. (3,579)
12. Regis Akitaya (3,144)
13. Paul Ueki (3,044)

House of Delegates

By state

References

References

1. Miho, David. (2008-09-20). "Palauans Prepare For Tuesday Primary Election". Pacific Magazine.
2. Miho, David. (2008-10-01). "Absentee Ballots Don't Change Outcome Of Palau Presidential Primary". Pacific Magazine.
3. Miho, David. (2008-11-05). "Toribiong Has The Lead In Palau Presidential Vote". Pacific Magazine.
4. Miho, David. (2008-11-07). "Johnson Toribiong Wins Palau Presidential Race". Pacific Magazine.