2008 Guamanian legislative election

An election for the Legislature of Guam took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2008,^[1] coinciding with the 2008 United States general elections and the Guam general election. Democrats defeated three Republican incumbents: Mark Forbes, Frank Ishizaki and Jesse Lujan however one Democratic incumbent was defeated namely Vice-Speaker David Shimizu.

2008 Guamanian legislative election

← 2006 November 4, 2008 2010 →
All 15 seats of the Legislature of Guam
Majority party Minority party   Leader Judith T.P. Won Pat Ray Tenorio Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat At-large district At-large district Last election 7 seats 8 seats Seats won 10 5 Seat change 3 3 Popular vote 231,409 158,300
Speaker before election Judith Won Pat Democratic Elected Speaker Judith Won Pat Democratic

Guam legislative candidates

Democratic candidates

• Thomas C. Ada
• Frank B. Aguon Jr.
• Robert L.G. Benavente
• Benjamin J.F. Cruz (I)
• Phillipe J. Cruz
• Luis P. Duenas
• Judith P. Guthertz (I)
• Joseph Leon Guerrero
• Tina Muña Barnes (I)
• Adolpho B. Palacios Sr. (I)
• Vicente "Ben" C. Pangelinan (I)
• Matthew J. Rector
• Rory J. Respicio (I)
• Rosanna San Miguel
• Vice Speaker David L.G. Shimizu (I)
• Speaker Judith T.P. Won Pat (I)

Republican candidates

• Vicente Anthony "Tony" Ada
• Frank Flores Blas Jr. (I)
• Dennis T. Borja
• Eddie Calvo (I)
• Jim Espaldon (I)
• Mark Forbes (I)
• Frankie T. Ishizaki (I)
• Jesse "Jess" Anderson Lujan (I)
• Douglas B. Moylan
• Telo Teresa Taitague
• Ray Tenorio (I)

Primary Election

The members are elected at-large with the first 15 winning candidates are elected as the new members of the legislature. As there were many candidates running, primaries were set on September 6, 2008, for both the Democratic and Republican parties. The first fifteen candidates who win the highest votes go on to the general election.

Democratic Party Primary

2008 Guam Legislature Primary Election (Democratic Party)^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Frank B. Aguon Jr.	8,795	4.64%
	Democratic	Benjamin J.F. Cruz (incumbent)	8,432	4.45%
	Democratic	Vicente "Ben" Pangelinan (incumbent)	8,289	4.38%
	Democratic	Judith Won Pat (incumbent)	8,009	4.23%
	Democratic	Thomas C. Ada	7,936	4.19%
	Democratic	Rory J. Respicio (incumbent)	7,415	3.92%
	Democratic	Tina Muña Barnes (incumbent)	7,317	3.86%
	Democratic	David L.G. Shimizu (incumbent)	7,169	3.79%
	Democratic	Adolpho B. Palacios Sr. (incumbent)	7,145	3.77%
	Democratic	Judith P. Guthertz (incumbent)	6,987	3.69%
	Democratic	Joseph Leon Guerrero	5,633	2.97%
	Democratic	Matthew J. "Matt" Rector	5,630	2.97%
	Democratic	Rosanna San Miguel	5,606	2.96%
	Democratic	Robert L.G. Benavente	4,457	2.35%
	Democratic	Phillipe J. Cruz	3,950	2.09%
	Democratic	Luis P. Duenas	3,941	2.08%
	Democratic	Write-in candidates	686	0.36%
Turnout			189,390

Republican Party Primary

2008 Guam Legislature Primary Election (Republican Party)^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eddie Calvo (incumbent)	4,150	4.89%
	Republican	James Espaldon (incumbent)	3,829	4.51%
	Republican	Ray Tenorio (incumbent)	3,508	4.13%
	Republican	Frank F. Blas Jr. (incumbent)	3,351	3.95%
	Republican	Telo Teresa Taitague	3,305	3.89%
	Republican	Frank T. Ishizaki (incumbent)	3,261	3.84%
	Republican	Mark Forbes (incumbent)	3,136	3.70%
	Republican	Douglas Moylan	2,980	3.51%
	Republican	Jesse Anderson Lujan (incumbent)	2,609	3.07%
	Republican	Dennis T. Borja	2,592	3.69%
	Republican	Vicente Anthony "Tony" Ada	0	0.00%
	Republican	Write-in candidates	2,587	3.05%
Turnout			84,870

General election results

Following the primaries, there were 26 candidates vying for the 15 seats in the Legislature of Guam.^[1] The members are elected at-large with the first 15 winning candidates are elected as the new members of the legislature. The Democratic Party gained full control of the legislature with 10 seats, while the Republican Party gaining only five seats.^[3]

2008 Guam legislative election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eddie Calvo (incumbent)	21,862
	Democratic	Frank B. Aguon Jr.	21,311
	Republican	Ray Tenorio (incumbent)	19,275
	Republican	James Espaldon (incumbent)	19,187
	Democratic	Thomas C. Ada	18,767
	Democratic	Vicente "Ben" Pangelinan (incumbent)	18,335
	Democratic	Judith T.P. Won Pat (incumbent)	17,952
	Democratic	Benjamin J.F. Cruz (incumbent)	17,484
	Democratic	Rory J. Respicio (incumbent)	16,567
	Democratic	Tina Muña Barnes (incumbent)	16,112
	Republican	Frank F. Blas Jr. (incumbent)	15,493
	Democratic	Adolpho B. Palacios Sr. (incumbent)	15,322
	Democratic	Judith P. Guthertz (incumbent)	14,595
	Republican	Telo Teresa Taitague	14,552
	Democratic	Matthew J. "Matt" Rector	14,363
	Democratic	David L.G. Shimizu (incumbent)	14,217
	Republican	Vicente Anthony "Tony" Ada	14,010
	Republican	Frank T. Ishizaki (incumbent)	13,907
	Republican	Douglas B. Moylan	13,839
	Republican	Jesse Anderson Lujan (incumbent)	10,813
	Democratic	Rosanna San Miguel	10,641
	Democratic	Joseph Leon Guerrero	10,612
	Republican	Dennis T. Borja	7,725
	Republican	Mark Forbes (incumbent)	7,637
	Democratic	Robert L.G. Benavente	6,090
	Democratic	Phillipe J. Cruz	5,134
Majority			231,409
Turnout			389,709
	Democratic gain from Republican

Freshman Senators

There will be 4 freshman Senators in the 30th Legislature. Four were elected on November 4, 2008.

• Tom Ada (D)
• Frank Aguon, Jr. (D)
• Matt Rector (D)
• Telo Taitague (R)