In search of early indicators for the upcoming Midterm Elections, President Donald Trump highlighted recent developments in Guam on social media. He announced that the territory, often considered strongly Democratic, had prematurely declared a Republican victory for the top office of governor, congratulating Tony Ada. Trump further noted that Republicans now hold a majority in the local Senate and expressed hope that this outcome signals what is to come in the broader election cycle.
However, the President's post omits several significant contextual points. Most notably, the election results in Guam have not yet been officially certified. Furthermore, the island possesses a long history of electing Republican governors; in fact, a Republican has governed the territory for the majority of the 21st century, including a consecutive 16-year stretch from January 2003 to January 2019.
Since becoming an unincorporated U.S. territory in 1950, Guam has frequently alternated control between the two major parties. Additionally, the local legislature was already under Republican control prior to this announcement. Trump also did not mention that a Republican candidate seeking re-election as the territory's non-voting delegate to Congress acknowledged defeat to a Democratic opponent, according to reports from the Pacific Daily News.
Sources: CNN Brasil.