Only two candidates were nominated for President, who is elected by the 33-member Nitijela.[1] The candidates were SpeakerJurelang Zedkaia and former President Kessai Note,[1] who had led the no confidence measure against Tomeing. Tomeing and Kessai had engaged in a power struggle since Kessai had lost his re-election bid in the 2007 election.[2] Under the terms of the Marshallese constitution, the Nitijela had fourteen days to elect a new president.[3]
Speaker Jurelang Zedkaia won election against former president Kessai Note with 17 to 15 votes.[1] The results gave Zedkaia the one vote-minimum needed to defeat Kessai and win the presidency.[1]
Senators did not vote along party lines during the election, with several crossing the aisle to vote for the presidential candidates in opposing parties.[1] Nitijela Senator Brenson Wase was quoted as describing the shifting political affiliations of the electors as being as mixed up "as a fruit salad."[2]
Observers noted that Zedkaia is an Iroij, or traditional chief, like his predecessor, Litokwe Tomeing. Zedkaia's status as Iroij may have been key to his narrow one-vote victory in the election.[4]
President Zedkaia was sworn into office on November 2, 2009.
