Lemanu Palepoi Mauga

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Lemanu Palepoi Mauga
Prior offices:
Governor of American Samoa
Years in office: 2021 - 2025
Predecessor: Lolo Matalasi Moliga (Nonpartisan)
Successor: Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan)

Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
Years in office: 2013 - 2021
Successor: Laapui Talauega Eleasalo Vaalele Ale (Nonpartisan)
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 19, 2024
Education
High school
Waianae High School
Associates
American Samoa Community College
Bachelor's
University of Hawaii, Manoa
Graduate
San Diego State University
Military
Service / branch
U.S. Army
Service / branch
U.S. Marine Corps
Contact

Lemanu Palepoi Mauga was the Governor of American Samoa. He assumed office on January 3, 2021. He left office on January 3, 2025.

Mauga ran for re-election for Governor of American Samoa. He lost in the general runoff election on November 19, 2024.

American Samoa elections are officially nonpartisan. Mauga identified himself as a member of the Democratic Party with the National Governors Association.[1]

Biography

Mauga was born in Nu’uuli and graduated from Waianae High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army. Mauga earned an A.A. from American Samoa Community College, a B.A. in political science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and an M.P.A. from San Diego State University. Mauga worked as the director of Army instructions with the American Samoa Department of Education JROTC program.[2]

Political career

Governor of American Samoa (2021-2025)

Mauga was elected governor of American Samoa in November 2020, and he took office on January 3, 2021.

Lieutenant governor of American Samoa (2013-2021)

Mauga served as lieutenant governor of American Samoa from 2013 to 2021.

American Samoa Senate (2009-2013)

Mauga represented Sua County #2 in the American Samoa Senate from 2009 to 2013.

Elections

2024

See also: American Samoa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2024

General runoff election

General runoff election for Governor of American Samoa

Nikolao Pula defeated incumbent Lemanu Palepoi Mauga in the general runoff election for Governor of American Samoa on November 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nikolao Pula
Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan)
 
59.8
 
5,846
Image of Lemanu Palepoi Mauga
Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan)
 
40.2
 
3,925

Total votes: 9,771
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Governor of American Samoa

Nikolao Pula and incumbent Lemanu Palepoi Mauga advanced to a runoff. They defeated Vaitautolu I'aulualo in the general election for Governor of American Samoa on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Nikolao Pula
Nikolao Pula (Nonpartisan)
 
42.4
 
4,284
Image of Lemanu Palepoi Mauga
Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan)
 
36.2
 
3,660
Image of Vaitautolu I'aulualo
Vaitautolu I'aulualo (Nonpartisan)
 
21.4
 
2,169

Total votes: 10,113
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Mauga in this election.

2020

See also: American Samoa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020

General election

General election for Governor of American Samoa

Lemanu Palepoi Mauga defeated Gaoteote Palaie Tofau, I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia, and Nua Sao in the general election for Governor of American Samoa on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Lemanu Palepoi Mauga
Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (Nonpartisan)
 
60.3
 
7,154
Gaoteote Palaie Tofau (Nonpartisan)
 
21.9
 
2,594
I’aulualo Fa’afetai Talia (Nonpartisan)
 
12.3
 
1,461
Nua Sao (Nonpartisan)
 
5.5
 
652

Total votes: 11,861
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Lemanu Palepoi Mauga did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Lemanu Palepoi Mauga did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Mauga married Ella Gaea Perefoti Failautusi.[2]

See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
Lolo Matalasi Moliga
Governor of American Samoa
2021-2025
Succeeded by
Nikolao Pula
Preceded by
-
Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa
2013-2021
Succeeded by
Laapui Talauega Eleasalo Vaalele Ale