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Dennis C. Mendiola

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Dennis Mendiola
14th Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 23, 2025
GovernorDavid M. Apatang
Preceded byDavid M. Apatang
President of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
In office
January 13, 2025 – July 23, 2025
Preceded byEdith DeLeon Guerrero
Succeeded byKarl King-Nabors
Member of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
from the 1st district
In office
January 9, 2023 – July 23, 2025
Preceded byVictor Hocog
Teresita Santos
Succeeded byPaul Manglona
Personal details
BornDennis James Camacho Mendiola
(1980-03-02) March 2, 1980 (age 46)
Guam
PartyRepublican
SpouseAna Maria Salas Mendiola
Children4
University of Guam (BA, MPA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceArmy National Guard
Years of service
2009–2015
RankCaptain

Dennis James Camacho Mendiola (born March 2, 1980) is a Northern Mariana Islander politician. He is the 14th and current lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. Prior to his elevation to the lieutenant governorship after the death of Arnold Palacios, he served as a Republican member for the 1st district of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate.

Early life and military career

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Dennis James Camacho Mendiola was born March 2, 1980 in Guam.[1] He was raised by his grandparents in Rota. He attended high school in Rota and Guam before dropping out. He eventually earned his G.E.D. at Guam Community College in 2006.[1] After dropping out, he moved, first to Saipan, then to Guam, to play basketball. Eventually, he was recruited for the Guam men's national basketball team.[2]

He attended the University of Guam and graduated with a degree in public administration and a minor in military science. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the US Army National Guard.[3] He medically retired in 2015 at the rank of captain after a battle with cancer.[2]

Political career

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Mendiola served as the Commissioner of Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.[4] He was the campaign chairman for Victor Hocog in the 2018 general election.[2] In 2020, he was the Republican candidate against incumbent Paul Manglona. He lost with 666 votes to Manglona's 764 votes.[5] He ran again in the 2022 election winning a five-way race for two seats in the Senate.[6] On January 8, 2025, it was announced that Mendiola would be elected to the position of President of the Senate for the 24th Commonwealth Legislature.[7]

Mendiola was elevated to the position of lieutenant governor after David M. Apatang was elevated to governor after the death of Arnold Palacios.[8] He announced that he would not be a candidate for public office in the 2026 general election in order to focus on an outstanding corruption allegation.[9]

Political positions

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Mendiola endorsed the Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in the 2024 United States presidential election and was one of the Northern Mariana Islands’ [10]

References

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  1. ^ a b Quitugua, Daniel O. (August 25, 2025). "A Humble Path to Public Service". Letter to Editor of Marianas Variety. Marianas Variety. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c Mendionla, Dennis C. (August 20, 2025). "CNMI Lt. Governor was a Guam Basketball Star" (Interview). Interviewed by Lujan, Patrick. Guam Sports Network. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  3. ^ Mendiola, Dennis (October 27, 2022). "Senate Candidates" (Interview). Interviewed by Staff. Marianas Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  4. ^ De La Torre, Ferdie (July 31, 2020). "DFEMS chief Mendiola will be running as a Republican". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ "2020 CNMI General Election Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. November 17, 2020. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  6. ^ "2022 Official General Election and Run-Off Results". Commonwealth Election Commission. November 11, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Erediano, Emmanuel T. (January 8, 2025). "LB prepares for inauguration of 24th Legislature". Marianas Variety.
  8. ^ Rabago, Mark; Gilbert, Haidee E. (July 23, 2025). "CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios dies Wednesday night, hours after airlifted to Guam for medical treatment". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  9. ^ Manabat, Bryan (March 12, 2026). "Mendiola will not seek office in 2026". Marianas Variety. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  10. ^ Marino, Chrystal (July 24, 2024). "'A new Trump and a new Republican Party'". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
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