2016 United States House of Representatives election in American Samoa explained

Country:	American Samoa
Previous Election:	2014 United States House of Representatives election in American Samoa
Previous Year:	2014
Next Election:	2018 United States House of Representatives election in American Samoa
Next Year:	2018
Image1:	Aumua Amata Radewagen congressional photo.jpg
Candidate1:	Amata Coleman Radewagen
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	8,924
Percentage1:	75.4%
Candidate2:	Salu Hunkin-  Finau
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	1,581
Percentage2:	13.4%
Candidate3:	Mapu Jamias
Party3:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote3:	978
Percentage3:	8.3%
Delegate
Before Election:	Amata Coleman Radewagen
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Amata Coleman Radewagen
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

An election was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, to elect the non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including the larger American Samoa general election, as well as the nationwide 2016 United States House of Representatives elections and the 2016 United States general elections.

Incumbent Amata Coleman Radewagen, a Republican who had held the seat since 2015, successfully sought re-election to a second term. Aumua Amata won re-election with 75.4% of votes cast, the highest number of votes for any elective office in the history of American Samoa.^[1]

Background

In November 2014, Radewagen defeated 10-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Eni Faleomavaega in a crowded race for the seat.^[2]

Candidates

Five candidates filed to run for election to American Samoa's lone seat in the United States House of Representatives: three women and two men. All elections in American Samoa were officially non-partisan, though candidates have identified with a particular political party.

Democratic

• Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau, educator, former president of American Samoa Community College, 2012 candidate for Governor of American Samoa, sister of former Delegate Eni Faleomavaega.^[3]
• Paepaetele Mapu Saei Jamias, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, president of the American Samoa National Olympic Committee^[4]
• Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman, retired U.S. federal government employee

Republican

• Amata Coleman Radewagen, incumbent delegate for the United States House of Representatives

Independents

• Tim Jones, engineer and 2012 candidate for Governor of American Samoa^[5]

Withdrew

• Tua'au Kereti Mata'utia, withdrew from race on in July 2016^[6]

Campaign

A congressional campaign forum, attended by all five candidates, was held at American Samoa Community College (ASCC) on October 6, 2016.^[7]

Results

The general election took place on November 8, 2016, and Radewagen won with over 75% of the vote, according to official results.

External links

• American Samoa Election Office: Official Certification of Candidate for the November 8, 2016, General Election

Notes and References

1. Web site: AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN . University of Hawaii . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200806150933/https://www.hawaii.edu/pbcp/node/41 . 6 August 2020.
2. News: Fili . Sagapolutele . Aumua Amata is our new non-voting Delegate to the US House . . 2014-11-05 . 2016-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161107020720/http://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/A%20Section%20Wed%2011-05-14.pdf . 2016-11-07 . dead .
3. News: Vaitinasa declares her candidacy for Congress . . 2016-06-15 . 2016-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161107013240/http://www.talanei.com/2016/06/15/vaitinasa-declares-her-candidacy-for-congress/22779466/. 2016-11-07. live.
4. News: Retired Lt. Col Mapy Jamoas 6th Person To Declare for U.S. Congress . . 2016-07-15 . 2016-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161107155858/http://www.samoanews.com/content/en/retired-lt-col-mapu-jamias-6th-person-declare-us-congress . 2016-11-07 . dead .
5. News: Three for governor/lt governor, 5 for Congress, 62 for AS House . . 2016-09-02 . 2016-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161107014155/http://www.talanei.com/2016/09/02/three-for-governorlt-governor-5-for-congress-62-for-as-house/ . 2016-11-07. live.
6. News: Tua'au Kereti Mata'utia pulls out of race . . 2016-07-14 . 2016-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161107015537/http://www.talanei.com/2016/07/14/tuaau-kereti-matautia-pulls-out-of-race/ . 2016-11-07. live.
7. News: Congressional candidates on US citizenship . . 2016-10-12 . 2016-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161107021314/http://www.talanei.com/2016/10/12/congressional-candidates-on-us-citizenship/ . 2016-11-07. live.