Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is running unopposed for American Samoa’a Delegate seat to the U.S. House of Representatives, in the 2022 Mid- Term election in November, according to data in the “Determination of Eligibility of Candidates” for the 2022 Election notice released after 4:30p.m Sept. 01 by Chief Election Officer, Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei.

Long time local political observers who have spoken to Samoa News over the years, and some politicians said over the weekend, this is “very unusual” for the Congressional race — an incumbent running unopposed, as there is usually one or more “challengers to the incumbent every election year.”

The political observers have declined to speculate at this point as to the reason or reasons behind this “unusual” election situation but noted that Uifa’atali has now served some 8-years in Congress — but “there could also be other contributing factors with only one candidate for voters to decide on.”

Uifa’atali — who is maintaining her name as “Aumua Amata” on the ballot — is seeking a fifth consecutive two-year term in office.

Responding to Samoa News request for comments, Uifa’atali she said in a media statement issued last Friday that she is “humbled” that she will be unopposed for re-election in November — based on the Election Office announcement.

“I have given my heart and soul to our people for the past eight years and will look forward to serving as your Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the next two years,” she said in a statement.

“As always, I pledge to make sure that all legislation under consideration by Congress applies to American Samoa when it benefits our people and excludes us when it does not,” she pointed out.

“And as a wise old retired Congressman told me when I first joined the House in 2015: 'My job is to convince 440 other Members of Congress that my district is the most important.' A tall order to be sure, and I am thankful that our people have shown confidence in me to continue to make our case in Washington,” she said.

Uifa’atali revealed that she has been invited to attend the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders in Honolulu coming up soon and will return to the territory thereafter “to visit the villages in the weeks before the election to answer questions and hear from the people how I can best represent them over the next two years.”

“I want to take this opportunity to thank our congressional staff for all the hard work they do to meet our needs and my supporters for taking our message to the people. God Bless you and God bless American Samoa!” she concluded.

(Samoa News notes that the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu announced last month that the 12th Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL), will convene from September 12-14 under the theme “Puʻuhonua: The Pacific Way Forward”. American Samoa is among the members of the PICL.)

Formerly unsuccessful congressional candidate Meleagi Suitonu-Chapman had announced in July her intention to run for the Delegate seat and picked up a candidate petition. But her name did not appear on the eligible list of candidates for the mid-term election released by the Election Office.

Responding to Samoa News request for comments, Suitonu-Chapman confirmed that “I have chosen not to run” this year and cited two primary reasons for the decision including the tremors close to Ta’u island in Manu’a — her home island. “When we ALL are to evacuate to Tutuila, it will be another panic,” she said via-email.

She also shared that her husband has health needs and has been cleared to travel and it will be hard to leave Tutuila.

“I love our home, American Samoa and especially my original home, Chapman Reef in the Village of Fitiuta-Leusoali'i, Ta'u Manu’a,” she added.