REPRESENTATIVE Heinz S. Hofschneider and running mate Speaker Arnold I. Palacios on Saturday topped the Republican gubernatorial primary, winning 53 percent of the votes cast.
Heinz-Arnold garnered 3,382 votes while former Gov. Juan N. Babauta and running mate Board of Education member Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero received 2,986 -- a difference of 396 votes.
The turnout was 58 percent of the 11,000 voters projected by the GOP.
Shortly after the results were announced at the multi-purpose center at 8 p.m., Hofschneider and Palacios went over to the Juan-Galvin camp in Gualo Rai where the rivals embraced each other while the former governor’s supporters, some teary eyed, cheered and applauded.
Babauta told his supporters that he will live up to the unity pledge signed by the two teams before the primary.
He said he and Deleon Guerrero accept the people’s decision.
“This is the beginning of the NMI Republicans coming together,” he added.
Hofschneider, for his part, said the turnout was an indication of a stronger and more unified Republican Party.
The Heinz-Arnold team won in Saipan’s Precincts 1, 2, 3, 5, the Northern Islands and Tinian, while Juan-Galvin topped the race in Precinct 4 and Rota.
In Precinct 1, Heinz-Arnold garnered 983 votes against Juan-Galvin’s 870.
In Precinct 2, Heinz-Arnold, 318; Juan-Galvin, 192.
In Precinct 3, which Hofschneider and Palacios represent in the House, Heinz-Arnold received 744; Juan-Galvin, 525.
In Precinct 4, Babauta’s bailiwick, Juan-Galvin got 435 votes; Heinz-Arnold, 310.
In Precinct 5, Heinz-Arnold, 509; Juan-Galvin, 475.
On Tinian, Heinz-Arnold, 259; Juan-Galvin, 146.
On Rota, Juan-Galvin, 302; Heinz-Arnold, 194.
In the Northern Islands, Heinz-Arnold, 65; Juan-Galvin, 41.
GOP Chairman Ed Tenorio said they were happy with the turnout.
“This is an exercise within one family.” said Edward M. Deleon Guerrero, chairman of the Committee to Elect Juan-Galvin. “Now that it’s done, we should now work toward unifying and moving toward the November elections.”
Tenorio thanked all the voters who participated in the GOP primary and the two gubernatorial teams for coming together to ensure party unity.
He also expressed appreciation for the GOP election committee and the crucial role it played in ensuring “a very smooth election.”
