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Local GOP is first nationally recognized party
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Posted on Sep 05 2004
The U.S. Republican Party, one of the two major political parties in the country, has recognized its CNMI counterpart, boosting the local party’s bid in the next Commonwealth elections.
The CNMI Republican Party now expects to have gained advantage in local elections, since it could tap the support of the national party and its members.
The recognition allows the local Republican Party to field three voting delegates to the group’s 2008 national convention that would determine who the next presidential standard bearer would be.
“It’s a big deal,” said Pete Callaghan, press secretary to Gov. Juan N. Babauta, a Republican.
Besides projecting an advantage for the GOP in local elections, Callaghan said the governor would have expanded clout in garnering congressional and federal support on policies relevant to the CNMI.
“It also brings recognition to the entire Commonwealth,” Callaghan said. “They know who we are. They know we exist.”
The local GOP becomes the first CNMI party to be recognized nationally, Callaghan said.
In a recent meeting among members of the Republican Party National Rules Committee in New York, the local GOP got the national party’s nod for accreditation, garnering a “clear majority” votes among the members. Each state had two representatives in the meeting, Callaghan said.
“The Republican Party of the Northern Marianas is now recognized by the Republican Party of the United States. We can now vote for who is to be candidate for [U.S.] president for the party,” Callaghan said.
Callaghan said local GOP president John Reyes and Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio lobbied for party recognition.
Callaghan said the national party also recognized local counterparts in Guam and American Samoa.
