Gregorio Sablan
Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (/ɡrɪˈɡɔːrioʊ kɪˈliːli kəˈmɑːtʃoʊ səˈblɑːn/ grih-GOR-ee-oh kih-LEE-lee kə-MAH-choh sə-BLAHN born January 19, 1955) is a Northern Mariana Islander politician and former election commissioner. Elected in 2008, Sablan became the first delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Sablan is the only Chamorro member of Congress.
Gregorio Sablan | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2009 | |
| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Northern Mariana Islands' at-large district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Pedro Tenorio (Resident Representative) |
| Member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives from the 2nd district | |
| In office 1982–1986 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 19, 1955 Saipan, Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Andrea Sablan |
| Children | 6 |
| Website | House website |
Sablan has been a member of the Democratic Party throughout his life, but ran as an Independent for the delegate position, as the Democrats had nominated another candidate. He immediately changed his party affiliation in the House to Democratic in 2009, caucuses with Democrats and has remained an official party member during his tenure, but ran as an Independent in all of his reelection campaigns between 2010 and 2020. He ran as a Democrat for the first time in 2022. On January 18, 2024, after serving 16 years as the CNMI's delegate to the United States House of Representatives, Sablan announced he would not seek re-election, going on to endorse fellow Democrat and majority leader of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives, Ed Propst for the 2024 election.