Democratic Party of Guam

The Democratic Party of Guam is a political party in Guam affiliated with the U.S. Democratic Party. Its origins lie in the Popular Party, which was the only political party on Guam until 1956.

In addition to appointed Governor Manuel F.L. Guerrero, the first person of native Chamorro descent to rise to the highest office in the territory, three Guamanian Governors have been affiliated with the party: Ricardo J. Bordallo, Carl T.C. Gutierrez, and Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero.

The party has also elected four of its members as Guam Delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives: Antonio B. Won Pat, Robert A. Underwood, Madeleine Z. Bordallo, and Michael San Nicolas.

A majority of eight out of fifteen members of the current 36th Guam Legislature are members of the Democratic Party of Guam. The current majority leadership in the Guam Legislature include Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, Vice Speaker Tina Rose Muña Barnes, Legislative Secretary Amanda Shelton, Majority Leader Senator Telena C. Nelson, Majority Whip Sabina F. Perez, Senators Joe S. San Augustin, Clynton Ridgell, and Jose "Pedo" Terlaje.

The Popular Party was the first political party formed on Guam and remained the only political party on Guam until the late 1950s, holding virtually all of the seats in the first Guam Legislatures. This dominance continued even when the Territorial Party was formed near the end of the decade and there was finally two-party competition in the electoral process. A leading figure of the Popular Party was Speaker Antonio B. Won Pat who was later elected as Guam's first delegate to the U.S. Congress.

In 1961, the Popular Party of Guam had secured affiliation with the national Democratic Party and was rechristened the Democratic Party of Guam. The Democrats gained control of the Legislature in the 1966 elections and retained the majority for the next eight years.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed the first Guamanian and Chamorro Governor of Guam, Manuel F. Leon Guerrero. Leon Guerrero's term from 1963 until 1969 was marked by the recovery from Typhoon Karen, including support for Guam under the Guam Rehabilitation Act, the establishment of the Guam Economic Development Authority, and the establishment of the Guam Tourist Commission, later to become the Guam Visitors Bureau.

In the first race for elected governor, Manuel F. Leon Guerrero teamed up with Dr. Antonio C. "Tony" Yamashita, President of the University of Guam. They were challenged by Speaker Joaquin C. Arriola and retired Judge Vicente Bamba and team of Senator Ricardo J. "Ricky" Bordallo and Richard F. "Dick" Taitano, former Director of the Office of Territories. Guerrero/Yamashita were defeated during the primary election by Bordallo/Taitano. After the primary election, Bordallo-Taitano mounted a vigorous but unsuccessful campaign for Governor against Carlos Camacho and Kurt Moylan.