Blas Attao | |
|---|---|
| Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives | |
| In office January 14, 2019 –January 10, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Rafael Demapan |
| Succeeded by | Edmund Villagomez |
| Member of the Northern Mariana IslandsHouseofRepresentatives from the 3rd district | |
| Assumed office January 12,2015 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Blas Jonathan Tenorio Attao |
| Political party | Independent (before 2018,2022–present) Republican (2018–2022) |
| Education | Boise State University |
Blas Jonathan Tenorio Attao [1] is a Northern Mariana Islander politician. He serves as a member for the 3rd district of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. [2] He first took office January 12,2015. [3] He is an independent candidate for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the 2026 election. [4]
He attended Boise State University.[ citation needed ] Attao served as a legislative assistant in the Legislative Bureau during the 15th through 19th Commonwealth Legislatures. [4] [5]
Attao was elected as an independent candidate in 2014. [4] He was reelected in 2016,2022,and 2024 as an independent,while winning reelection on the Republican ticket in 2018 and 2020. At the start of the 21st Commonwealth Legislature,Attao was unanimously elected the Speaker of the House. [6] During this time,Attao oversaw the creation of the first bipartisan ethics commission. [7] In the 22nd Commonwealth Legislature,Attao did not run for reelection as Speaker and nominated Edmund Villagomez for the position. After a contentious election for Speaker,Attao was elected unanimously to serve as Vice Speaker. [8]
In July 2025,he announced his campaign for Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in the 2026 election on an independent ticket with his successor as Speaker Edmund Villagomez. [4]
rank served in the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th Legislatures while I was still working as a legislative staff member
House Clerk Linda B. Muña: Madame Speaker Pro Tem, all 19 members present voted for Representative Blas Jonathan "BJ" Tenorio Attao to the Office of the Speaker.