A fourth candidate has announced his intention to run for American Samoa’s seat in Congress. He is US Army veteran Dr Afu Lefaoseu III.

“Today, I officially announce my candidacy for American Samoa’s At-Large Delegate seat in the United States House of Representatives,” he said in a statement. “I am under no illusions. I know you have stood where you are now, year after year, listening to many campaign announcements filled with many promises. But I am not here to offer you a list of ‘favors.’ I am here to offer a strategic mission for our survival and our growth.”

Dr Lefaoseu said his campaign is anchored in one non-negotiable principle: “To uplift the economic standards of our people through Economic Diversity and Empowerment.”

He quotes an English saying : ‘The more things change, the more they remain the same.’

He said, “We have seen leadership change, we have seen policies enacted, yet for the average family, the economic reality remains stagnant—or worse, it is slipping away. Our economy is currently a one-way street. We have invested our entire future into a single basket. As we speak, 83% of our private-sector jobs and 99% of our exports are controlled by one industry. We honor and appreciate the commitment of StarKist; they have been a mainstay of our lives. But a territory that relies on a single company for its survival is a territory that is one global disaster, one trade shift, or one corporate decision away from total economic collapse.”

Dr Lefaoseu continued, “This campaign is not about the person standing at this podium. It is about the American Samoans working two jobs, exhausted, yet still unable to keep up with the rising cost of living. It is about the parent whose heart breaks with worry over the drug pandemic that is stealing the potential of our children. It is for the farmer who wakes at 4:00 AM to tend the soil, only to find the markets closed to him. It is for the cannery workers, the construction crews, and our dedicated government employees who are forced to choose between paying a utility bill and buying healthy food for their children.”

He said he will share the blueprints for how we leverage our unique position in the Pacific to attract high-impact investment while protecting our lands and our Fa’asamoa. He adds I am the people’s choice because I believe in the people’s potential.

“I am asking for your trust and your vote for U.S. Congress on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Let us build a future that finally matches the strength of our spirit.”

Dr. Lefaoseu is an American Combat Veteran Commissioned Officer who served more than 15 years on active duty in the U.S. conventional army and U.S. Special Operations Command Central. He also commanded the U.S. Army Reserve Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry. He holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Hawaii and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University.

Others who have announced they are running for American Samoa’s seat in Congress are incumbent Uifaatali Amata, Sandra King Young and Samana Semo Ve’ave’a.