[b] The Republican Party entered the 2022 general election with the baggage of their lost trifecta from the 2020 general election, which saw the slumbering CNMI Democratic Party awaken and gain control of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives through a coalition with several independent members and a single-seat in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate.

[8] Flights between the CNMI and fellow US Territory Guam, as well as countries such as Japan and Korea, dropped to record lows or were suspended completely, severely damaging the economy.

[9][10][11] The worsening relations between the United States and China also signalled that Chinese tourists, once a cornerstone of the local tourism industry, will likely not return to the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

[13] The declining population has led to lower tax revenue and worse social services and economic conditions, leading to more people leaving and creating a cycle that is difficult to break and is placing pressure on the local government, especially on the incumbents.

[14] The CNMI is also witnessing a healthcare system that is inadequate to meet the needs of the territory, with many taking trips to neighboring Guam to obtain the services they need.

[15] Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres, the incumbent republican governor ran for another term alongside running mate Vinson Flores "Vinnie" Sablan.

Lieutenant Governor Arnold Indalecio Palacios, a career republican, also contested the seat as an independent with Saipan mayor David Mundo Apatang as his running mate.