1. Diego Tenorio Benavente was born on April 21,1959 and is a Northern Mariana Islander politician who served as the sixth lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from January 14,2002 to January 9,2006, under former Governor Juan Babauta.
Diego Benavente then attended the College of Southern Idaho receiving an education in electrical engineering.
However, Diego Benavente was elected to the House in his second campaign in 1989.
Diego Benavente served in the House for six consecutive terms, including three terms as the Speaker of the House.
Diego Benavente left the House in 2000 to run for Lieutenant Governor in 2001.
Diego Benavente was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands as the running mate of Juan Babauta in the 2001 gubernatorial election.
Diego Benavente announced his candidacy for Governor in the 2009 election on December 11,2008.
However, Diego Benavente dropped out of the race in February 2009 leaving two candidates - Heinz Hofschneider and Juan Babauta - in the race for the Republican nomination.
Diego Benavente was again elected to the CNMI House of Representatives in 2007.
Diego Benavente is currently serves as the Minority Leader of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives as of April 2011.
Diego Benavente was elected president of the CNMI Republican Party on August 28,2023.