was August 6, 2008. The historic first federal election did not attract much attention, in terms of overall voter registration. Less than 13,000 people registered to vote in the lone Congressional election. These voters represented 1/4 of the total CNMI population. This represented a 15 percent drop in the number of registered voters from the 2007 midterm legislative elections. Candidates Listed alphabetically by political party To be eligible to run in the 2008 Congressional election, each candidate was required to be a United States citizen, at least 25 years of age, and must have resided in the Northern Mariana Islands for at least seven years before the election. Candidates were also required to be registered CNMI voters on the day of the election (November 4, 2008) and could not seek any other elected office simultaneously. The field of nine candidates for the Congressional election consisted of one Republican, one Democrat and seven independents. The nine candidates represented a very diverse mix of professional backgrounds. Democratic Party (endorsed candidate) David Cing, former Northern Mariana Islands Senator Independent candidates Felipe Atalig, Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council member, a Republican, but running as an independent Luis Crisostimo, Northern Mariana Islands Senator, a Democrat, but running as an independent John Davis, high school teacher and Vietnam War veteran John Gonzales, television talk show host, a Covenant Party member, but running as an independent Juan T. Lizama, retired judge, a Republican, but running as an independent Gregorio C. Sablan, former Election Commission executive director, a Democrat, but running as an independent Chong Won, businessman originally from South Korea, first time political candidate Republican Party (endorsed candidate) Pete Tenorio, current elected resident representative in Washington D.C. since 2002. Results References External links Pacific Magazine: Sablan's Lead Expected To Hold In U.S. Congress Race Saipan Tribune: Election Primer: Who, what, where when of historic delegate polls Saipan Tribune: Candidates quizzed at public forum Forum puts delegate contenders in hot seat United States House of Representatives Northern Mariana Islands 2008