Senate to reorganize on Thursday

07/30/2025 - The CNMI Senate will reorganize on Thursday at 3 pm after former Senate President Dennis C. Mendiola was sworn in as lieutenant governor last week following the passing of the late governor Arnold I. Palacios.

The Senate will formally elect a new president, vice president, floor leader, and legislative secretary. As Marianas Press reported, Tinian Sen. Karl King-Nabors has received support to be the next Senate president.  The Senate president-elect confirmed to Marianas Press that Saipan Sen. Corina Magofna will serve as the new vice president of the Senate. Meanwhile, Rota Sen. Donald Manglona will remain floor leader. Sen. Francisco Cruz will continue to be the Legislative secretary. 

Magofna is currently off-island, and MP has reached out to her for comment. New committee assignments will be announced soon.

One Senate seat for Rota is now vacant with Mendiola’s move to the executive branch. King-Nabors said that the seat will be filled by the second-highest vote getter in the last election, who is longtime lawmaker Paul Manglona. Former senator Paul Manglona lost to Sen. Ronnie Calvo in the 2024 election by 58 votes in a two-person race. MP has reached out to former senator Manglona for comment.

King-Nabors told Marianas Press on Tuesday, “We have to officially accept the resignation of now Lt. Gov. Mendiola at the reorganization session. My office will immediately notify the Governor’s Office of a vacancy. At that time, the governor is expected to appoint Sen. Paul [Manglona].”

He added, “He [will] be sworn in on the following session after the credentials committee [signs] off.”

Report by Thomas Manglona II