Former Sen. Lou Leon Guerrero is now officially on her way to become Guam's first woman governor and the first Democrat to occupy Adelup in 16 years, after getting 50.79 percent of the total votes cast in the gubernatorial race, inclusive of absentee ballots counted on Friday.

The Guam Election Commission finalized and certified the results of the 2018 elections at about 5 p.m. Friday, more than two weeks after the Nov. 6 general election.

Leon Guerrero met the minimum 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast, as required by law, avoiding a gubernatorial runoff race between her and Republican Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio.

"Based on the count from the absentees today, there will be no runoff," Guam Election Commission Executive Director Maria Pangelinan said.

Leon Guerrero and running mate Joshua Tenorio got 18,258 votes or 50.79 percent of the 35,950 total votes cast in the gubernatorial race, based on official results released by the commission.

In response to the official results, Leon Guerrero stated that she was elated the election season was over and was humbled.

“I am elated that the election season is now over and humbled by the confidence shown to Josh and I by the people of Guam," Leon Guerrero said. “Now that this election is behind us, the important work of our Transition Team continues."

Tenorio and running mate former Sen. Tony Ada got 9,487 or 26.39 percent of the votes cast in the gubernatorial race.

Write-ins totaled 8,205, or 22.82 percent of gubernatorial votes cast.

Supporters of Sen. Frank Aguon Jr. and running mate Alicia Limtiaco, who launched an active write-in campaign, believe that the record-breaking write-in votes were for the Aguon-Limtiaco team.

The certification of results marks the end of the 2018 election season.

In response to the official results, Lt. Gov. Tenorio and Ada thanked family members, supporters and others who participated in the election.

On behalf of his team, Tenorio also stated, "We sincerely rally behind Lou and Josh now as we wish them the very best in their leadership to improve our people and their future."

'Message of change'

Jerry Crisostomo, chairman of the Republican Party and party representative to the election commission, said they did not anticipate that the 200-plus absentee ballots would change the outcome of the election so Leon Guerrero will be certified the winner of the gubernatorial race.

Crisostomo said the Democratic Party, with four gubernatorial candidates this year, was effective in sending the message of "change" to the public, after Adelup was controlled by Republicans for 16 years.

"I think that galvanized and united them more than it divided them," he said.

He said the Republican Party is looking forward to the next election.

"What I do know is that the Republican Party has a lot of rebuilding to do. In 2019, we will get back (up) as a party and then go from there," Crisostomo said.

Voter turnout

Voter turnout for the 2018 general election was at 66.8 percent, the lowest in the history of Guam, based on election commission data dating back to 1950.

This means of the record-high 55,941 who registered to vote this year, only 37,386 actually cast their vote.

Among voter comments indicated that the negative campaigns by some candidates may have turned off voters, keeping them from going to the polls, according to Election Commission independent member Patrick Civille.

292 absentee votes counted

The election commission processed some 300 qualified provisional and absentee ballots received by Nov. 21, and 292 of those were counted on Friday.

Of the 292 ballots, 284 were cast in the gubernatorial race, while seven were considered under-votes and one was an over-vote.

The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio team got 175 more votes on Friday, while the Tenorio-Ada team got 68 more from absentee and provisional voters. There were 41 additional gubernatorial write-in votes.

More:Republican or Democrat: Here's what it means on Guam

More:Leon Guerrero names Okada to lead gubernatorial transition

Senatorial race recount

A tight margin between Democrat senatorial candidates Jose Terlaje and Celestin Babauta prompted an automatic recount, but Terlaje maintained the 15th spot in the incoming 35th Legislature after the recount and certification of results.

Democrats will hold a 10-5 super majority in the new Legislature, which is a veto-proof majority if Democrats vote along party line.

Those elected to the 35th Legislature include incumbent Sens. Therese Terlaje, Telena Nelson, Joe San Agustin, Mary Camacho, Regine Biscoe Lee, Louise Muna and Wil Castro, along with former Sens. Tina Muna-Barnes and Telo Taitague and newcomers Amanda Shelton, James Moylan, Clynt Ridgell, Kelly Marsh, Sabina Perez and Jose Terlaje.

Other results

Guam's next delegate to U.S. Congress, Sen. Mike San Nicolas, sealed his victory over former Public Auditor Doris Brooks.

Attorney Leevin Camacho also nailed down his win over former Attorney General Douglas Moylan for the attorney general race.

Voters elected Simon Sanchez, Francis Santos and Mike Limtiaco to the Consolidated Commission on Utilities and voted Lourdes Benavente, Maria Gutierrez, Mark Mendiola and James Lujan to the Guam Education Board.

Voters also decided to retain Supreme Court of Guam Chief Justice Katherine Maraman and Superior Court of Guam Judge Anita Sukola.

More:GEC officials: Absentee votes not likely to force gubernatorial runoff race

More:Guam's next Legislature represents a range of ethnicities, trades and professions

Transition team

Prior to counting the remaining ballots, election commission members said they will issue a letter to the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio campaign team, stating that campaign funds cannot be used for inaugural activities.

Guam Community College President Mary Okada and Laura M. Torres Souder, the chairwoman and co-chairwoman of the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio transition team, announced the appointment of the team's subcommittee leaderships.

They include: former Sens. Toni Sanford, Carlotta Leon Guerrero and Rory Respicio; Attorneys Anita Arriola, Haig Huynh; Jon Junior Calvo, Stephanie Flores, Ruth Gurasamy, Therese Arroyo-Mantanane, Derrick Quinata and Dan Tydingco.

They also named senior advisers to the gubernatorial transition team, including Sen. Tom Ada, former Gov. Carl Gutierrez, former Sens. John Perez Aguon and Francis Santos, and former Assistant Secretary of the Interior Tony Babauta.

The gubernatorial transition team is set to have its first official meeting with Gov. Eddie Calvo's transition team on Monday, Nov. 26.

Reporter Haidee Eugenio covers Guam's Catholic church issues, government, business and more. Follow her on Twitter @haidee_eugenio. Follow Pacific Daily News on Facebook/GuamPDN and Instagram @guampdn.