On Election Day, Republicans celebrated a remarkable victory in Guam, flipping the governorship. The GOP’s Tony Ada and EJ Calvo triumphed over Democrats Therese Terlaje and Sabina Perez in a heated race.
This achievement followed a dramatic turn of events, with Democrats initially holding a slender edge as ballots were being counted across the territory.
According to preliminary figures from the Guam Election Commission, Ada-Calvo garnered 15,945 votes, accounting for 51.45%, against 14,925 votes, or 48.15%, for Terlaje-Perez.
The Republican ticket finished with a lead of 1,020 votes, representing a margin of 3.3 percentage points, marking a notable shift in a territory previously under Democratic control.
Following the results, Terlaje acknowledged her defeat, reaching out to Republican Vice Speaker Tony Ada to concede.
Cheers erupted at Republican headquarters, highlighted by lieutenant governor candidate EJ Calvo celebrating with champagne.
The election night saw a rollercoaster of emotions, initially favoring Democrats. Just before midnight, Terlaje-Perez held a narrow lead of merely 80 votes, tallying 5,243 to Ada-Calvo’s 5,163.
However, as results rolled in, the Republican ticket began to surge ahead. By 1 a.m., Ada-Calvo secured a lead of nearly 500 votes, obtaining 51.08% with 38 of 59 precincts reporting.
This momentum continued until all precincts were counted, solidifying the Republican victory in the unofficial results.
Furthermore, the GOP made notable strides in Guam’s Legislature, capturing eight of the top 15 positions after initially lagging behind Democrats.
Democratic Sen. Chris Barnett led all candidates with 19,783 votes, while other Democrats followed closely. Notably, Republican Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane ranked third with 14,220 votes.
Despite these successes, Republicans faced challenges in significant contests. Democratic candidate Alicia Limtiaco won against Republican incumbent Del. James Moylan, receiving 15,645 votes, or 51%.
In the attorney general race, Philip Tydingco gained an edge over incumbent Douglas Moylan, with Tydingco securing 11,583 votes.
While the results remain unofficial pending certification, Terlaje’s concession and the completed tally indicate Republicans are poised to take control of Guam’s governorship.
The Guam Election Commission plans to reconvene on November 19 to finalize off-island ballot counts before certifying the election outcomes.
For Republicans, this gubernatorial win signifies a crucial shift, as the Ada-Calvo duo turned around a previously tight contest, achieving a significant political milestone.
RELATED: NEW: GOP Takes Surprise Lead In Gubernatorial Race
POLL: Will You Support Trump And His Candidates In The Midterms?
