Arnold Indalecio Palacios (born August 22, 1955) is a Northern Marianan politician currently serving as the tenth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, since 2023. A political independent, he previously served as the 12th lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from 2019 to 2023, and was a member of the Republican Party until 2021. He represented Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands Senate.

Early and personal life

He was born August 22, 1955, on Saipan, the son of Dr. Francisco T. Palacios, a member of the Marianas Political Status Commission. Palacios graduated from Portland State University with a BS in business administration. Palacios is married to Wella Sablan Palacios and they have four children: Arnold Gerard, Nicole, Tiana, and Eric. He served as the Director of Fish and Wildlife during the 1990s.

Political career

Palacios is a former Speaker of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. He was sworn in on January 14, 2008, as the Speaker of the House's 16th Legislature. He represented Election District 3 in the House, which encompasses portions of Saipan and the Northern Islands. Palacios was the running mate of four-time gubernatorial candidate Heinz Hofschneider in the 2009 election. Between his time in the House and Senate, Palacios served as Secretary of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources under Governor Eloy Inos. In the 2014 general election, Palacios was elected to the Northern Mariana Islands Senate, alongside Justo Songao Quitugua, defeating seven candidates for two seats from the 3rd Senatorial District (Saipan). He was sworn into office as a Senator in the 19th Commonwealth Legislature on January 12, 2015. At the start of the 19th Commonwealth Legislature, Palacios was elected Floor Leader by a unanimous roll call. Palacios won as an independent candidate for Governor in the 2022 election, running with Saipan mayor David M. Apatang as his running-mate.