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Democrats get the first Election Day flip: Republicans lose seat in Guam… but Trump has a reason to celebrate
Democrat Alicia Limtiaco defeated Republican incumbent James Moylan in Guam’s race for its non-voting delegate to the US House, giving Democrats their first seat flip of the 2026 midterms. The result matters as both parties compete for control of Congress, though Guam’s delegate cannot vote on final House passage of legislation.
Limtiaco won 51 per cent to Moylan’s 49 per cent; he had won with 52 per cent in both 2022 and 2024. In a separate contest, Republican Tony Ada was projected to become governor, winning 51.5 per cent to Democrat Therese Terlaje’s 48.1 per cent after eight years of Democratic control. President Donald Trump welcomed Ada’s projected win and said Republicans had a majority in Guam’s Senate; the results were still unofficial.
In short
- Democrat Alicia Limtiaco flipped Guam’s House delegate seat.
- She defeated incumbent James Moylan by 51 per cent to 49 per cent.
- Republican Tony Ada was projected to win Guam’s governorship.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Limtiaco’s win can be seen as a meaningful sign of voter dissatisfaction with Moylan and an early gain for Democrats in a closely contested midterm, even though Guam’s delegate cannot vote on final House passage. Her narrow victory after Moylan’s earlier wins suggests voters were willing to change representation, while Ada’s projected gubernatorial win shows the island’s political picture is mixed.
The case against
Because Guam’s delegate cannot vote on final House passage, the seat flip has limited direct effect on Congress and should not be treated as a major shift in legislative power. Republicans can also point to Ada’s projected gubernatorial victory and their reported Senate majority as evidence of continued strength on the island, making the delegate result a narrow local contest rather than a clear broader trend.
Explained simply
Guam is a US island territory in the western Pacific. Its residents are US citizens, but they cannot vote for president in the general election. They elect a delegate to the US House of Representatives, who can speak and vote in some committees but cannot vote on final passage of laws.
Alicia Limtiaco and James Moylan were the Democratic and Republican candidates for that delegate seat. Guam also elects its governor and legislature separately; those local contests shape the territory’s government. The results draw attention because national parties are competing for control of Congress, while Guam’s delegate has a limited role in House votes.
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