When did American Samoans begin electing their governor?

American Samoans began electing their governor in 1977, when Peter Coleman became the territory's first elected governor.1

While the territory's 1967 constitution established the governor as the chief executive, the position was previously filled by appointment from the U.S. government. In 1976, the people of American Samoa approved a referendum that authorized the popular election of the governor and lieutenant governor to four-year terms, leading to the historic 1977 election.2