Mid-Term candidates certified after no challenges filed against them

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Chief Election Officer, Uiagalelei Lealofi, has “certified as official” the candidates for the Nov. 8, 2022 Mid-Term election, after the deadline to file a challenge against candidates has expired — which was 4:30p.m on Sept. 7.

Responding to Samoa News queries, Uiagalelei said, there were “no challenges” filed against candidates running for public office.

And therefore he certified all candidates whose names were listed and released as qualified candidates after 4:30p.m on Sept. 1.

For the Delegate seat to the US House of Representatives, incumbent Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata — who is maintaining her name “Aumua Amata” on the ballot — is running unopposed. 

In the local House of Representatives race, five incumbents are running unopposed and therefore are guaranteed to return on January 03, 2023 when House members are sworn into office at 12noon that day, for the 38th Legislature.

The unopposed incumbents are:

Rep. Luaitaua Gene Pan for Representative District #5 – Sua #1; Rep. Avagafono, Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava for Representative District #6 – Sua #2; Rep. Vailoata Eteuati Amituana’i for Representative District #7 – Maoputasi #1; Rep. Vesiai Poyer S. Samuelu for Representative District #9 – Maoputasi #3; and Rep. Ape Mike Asifoa for Representative District #17 – Leasina.

The only incumbent not seeking re-election is Rep. Vaetasi Tuumolimoli S. Moliga for District #10-Maoputasi #4. There are two certified candidates vying for the seat in this district.

There are some female candidates for the local House race, including incumbent Rep. Andra T. Samoa for Representative District #13 - Fofo, and she faces one challenger, Fiu John Saelua — who served as the Governor’s Chief of Staff during the 8-years of the Lolo Administration.

See Samoa News online edition Sept. 06 for the detailed list of names as presented by the Chief Election Office listing the qualified candidates. The names and their spelling are the same as with the certified official candidates list. Additionally, these are the names/spelling that appears on the ballot.

For questions on the certification of candidates and the list, call the Election Office at 699-3570.