Trump celebrates early Republican gains in Guam, says ‘hopefully that’s an indication’ for US midterms
US President Donald Trump has welcomed Republican gains in Guam’s gubernatorial election, congratulating Republican candidate Tony Ada and suggesting the result could signal wider gains for his party in the November 3 US midterm elections.“Guam, which has always been considered strongly Democrat, just had an early call for a REPUBLICAN Victory in the top spot, Governor — Congratulations to Tony Ada!” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform.He also claimed that Republicans had secured a majority in Guam’s legislature and added: “Wow, hopefully that’s an indication for things to come!”According to the unofficial tally reported by local media, Ada and Calvo received 15,945 votes, or 51.45%, against 14,925 votes, or 48.15%, for Terlaje and Perez. The results are subject to certification by the Guam Election Commission.The Republican’s unofficial victory came alongside another significant development for the party in Guam’s local politics. Republicans secured eight of the 15 seats in the territory’s legislature, compared with seven won by Democrats, according to Public Radio Guam.
Democrats flip Guam’s congressional seat: Unofficial result
The gubernatorial gain was not the only major outcome of the election. Democrat Alicia Limtiaco defeated Republican incumbent James Moylan in the contest for Guam’s delegate to the US House of Representatives.Limtiaco, a former attorney general of Guam, received 15,645 votes, or 51%, compared with Moylan’s 14,983 votes, or 48.84%, according to the final unofficial tally reported by The Wall Street Journal.Moylan had won the seat in 2024 with 52.7% of the vote. Limtiaco’s lead therefore represents a Democratic gain in the territory’s congressional representation.However, Guam’s delegate to the House does not have a vote on final passage of legislation on the House floor. The seat does not affect the balance of power between Republicans and Democrats in the chamber.Phillip Tydingco also defeated incumbent attorney general Doug Moylan in another key contest, according to Public Radio Guam.
Why the Guam result matters
Guam is an unincorporated US territory in the western Pacific. Its residents are US citizens but cannot vote in the US presidential general election. They elect their own governor and a delegate to the US House, who can participate in House proceedings but cannot vote on final passage of legislation.The territory has a 15-member unicameral legislature, whose members are commonly called senators. Therefore, Trump’s reference to a Republican majority in the “State Senate” was referring to the Republican majority in Guam’s territorial legislature, not a separate state Senate.The outgoing governor, Democrat Lou Leon Guerrero, was term-limited and could not seek another term. Ada’s victory ends the Democrats’ eight-year hold on the governorship.The election produced a mixed outcome: Republicans won the governorship and a legislative majority, while Democrats captured Guam’s congressional delegate seat.The Guam Election Commission’s results remain unofficial. The commission’s tentative schedule provides for the final tabulation and certification on November 19, after absentee ballots are received.
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