Diego Benavente

Who is Diego Benavente?

Diego Tenorio Benavente is a Northern Mariana Islands politician. Benavente, a Republican, served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands under former Governor Juan Babauta from January 14, 2002, to January 9, 2006.

Benavente first ran for election in 1987, when he narrowly lost his bid for election to the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives in Precinct II by just six votes. However, Benavente was elected to the House in his second campaign in 1989. He served in the House for six consecutive terms, including three terms as the Speaker of the House. He left the House to run for Lieutenant Governor in 2001.

Benavente was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands as the running mate of Juan Babauta in the 2001 gubernatorial election. He served in office from 2002 to 2006. Babauta and Benavente lost their bid for re-election in 2005 to Covenant Party candidate Benigno Fitial and his running mate, Timothy Villagomez.

Benavente announced his candidacy for Governor in the 2009 election on December 11, 2008.