Moylan: ‘Red wave’ will secure more wins for Guam

By Jayvee Vallejera

James Moylan, a Republican, is upbeat about continuing his unfinished work in Washington, D.C., and looks forward to more smooth-sailing work to benefit Guam. He is about to start his second two-year term as Guam’s delegate to the U.S. Congress after winning his reelection bid.

Just minutes after Democratic Party nominee Ginger Cruz called him on the phone at 2:18 a.m. on Nov. 6 to concede defeat, Moylan thanked his supporters and urged everyone to “move forward.”

“We know what we need to do. We have excellent folks right around us. We have excellent supporters,” he said.

As some political pundits had predicted, a Moylan win would trigger a “red wave” across the nation, with the Republican Party securing electoral wins this year.

Prescient words indeed. With a Republican in the White House, a new Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, and a House of Representatives that will also remain under the control of Republicans, Moylan believes this will pave the way for a more favorable political climate for Guam.

“[I am] very excited about the makeup of the leadership in the nation’s capital, with the Senate now flipping to a new majority, the White House being occupied by President Donald Trump, and, of course, the House trending to remain 'red,’ as these would enhance opportunities to secure more wins for Guam,” he said in an email interview.

The U.S. Congress is scheduled to hold its inaugural session on Jan. 3, 2025.

Moylan believes his track record of public service was key in convincing many voters to vote for him. That public service is the common thread throughout his life: from his time with the Department of Corrections, to his tenure in the Guam legislature, and in his last 23 months of representing the community in Congress, where he worked and assisted many individuals.

“This track record and the familiarity many in the community have with who I am and my work were key. We also stayed on the high road, which many in the community kept reiterating that we do, and that played a significant role as well,” he said.

At the time of this interview, Moylan expected to return to Washington, D.C., in a short while. Congress returned from recess on Nov. 12, and Moylan was there to welcome the CNMI’s new delegate, Kimberlyn King-Hinds, who was going through a “boot camp” for freshmen lawmakers.

As the U.S. Congress prepares for its lame-duck session, Moylan said he is focusing on passing several key measures, including the remaining appropriation bills, the National Defense Authorization Act, and a few other items. “We have several amendments throughout those measures; hence, our first order of business will be to ensure the amendments secure the support for passage,” he added.

Moylan said his priorities—as he stated during the campaign— will be to continue to fight for the issues that he initiated this term. One of his priorities in December is to push for his return to the House Armed Services Committee, “so that we can continue to advocate for the protection of our island, and to seek investments to continue stimulating Guam's economy.”

He said he will also continue to advocate for issues he and his office initiated this term, such as cabotage, Medicare portability, Essential Air Service, and other priorities—all while ensuring his district team continues to prioritize the basic federal needs of constituents. He plans to resurrect those issues in the next Congress if they are not enacted this term.

When asked if there were any untoward incidents in this last campaign season, he said there wasn't anything significant and that his team managed to run a clean campaign, but conceded there was a level of negativity and “dirtiness” that somehow dictated the flow of the campaign.

“However, our team kept their heads up, even as the online bullying and attacks pursued. Sadly, we can’t control the actions of certain supporters who carve their own campaign separate from the actual camps,” he said.

He acknowledged picking up some insights during the campaign that he could use in his new term. "Obviously, every day there is a learning curve, and you pick up new insights, ideas, or even approaches. Campaigns certainly bring you closer to your constituents, and that is where you learn of these insights and figure out how to apply them to your practices,” he said.

Moylan thanks the people of Guam for trusting him to continue representing them in Congress, describing it as a humbling experience that he takes seriously. “I want to remind the community that my desire to help and improve our island will be as resolute tomorrow as it is today, and I will always give them my 100 percent. I am very humbled by the opportunity of continuing to serve the community in this capacity.”