Michael San Nicolas

Mike San Nicolas
Born	Michael Franklin Quitugua San Nicolas 30 1, 1981
Birthplace	Talofofo, Guam, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Guam (2019–2023)
Education	University of Guam (BA)
Children	2

Michael Franklin Quitugua San Nicolas (born January 30, 1981), commonly known as Mike San Nicolas, is an American politician from Guam who served as the delegate to the United States House of Representatives from Guam's at-large congressional district from 2019 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, San Nicolas was elected by his colleagues in the 116th United States Congress to serve as vice chair of the United States House Committee on Financial Services. Born and raised in the village of Talofofo on Guam, San Nicolas entered public life as a senator in the Guam Legislature, where he served three consecutive terms spanning the 32nd, 33rd, and 34th legislatures from 2013 to 2019. During his time in the legislature, he authored bills addressing healthcare infrastructure and government accountability on the island. After winning the 2018 congressional race, San Nicolas became Guam's representative in Washington, D.C., where he joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and focused on financial services policy. Rather than seek reelection in 2022, he entered the Democratic primary for the 2022 Guamanian gubernatorial election, which he lost. Since leaving office, San Nicolas has remained a public figure on Guam, though his post-political career has been marked by legal difficulties.

Early Life

Michael Franklin Quitugua San Nicolas was born on January 30, 1981, in Talofofo, a village on the southeastern coast of Guam. Guam, an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean, has a distinct cultural identity shaped by its Chamorro heritage and its long relationship with the United States military and federal government. San Nicolas grew up on the island, where issues of self-determination, economic development, and the territory's political status within the United States have long been central to public life.

Details about San Nicolas's family background and upbringing in Talofofo are limited in publicly available sources. The village of Talofofo is one of Guam's smaller communities, situated along the Talofofo River and known for its rural character compared to the more urbanized areas of the island's northern and central regions. San Nicolas's middle name, Quitugua, reflects the Chamorro naming traditions common on the island.

Education

San Nicolas attended the University of Guam, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. The University of Guam, founded in 1952, is the primary institution of higher education in the territory and serves as a significant academic and cultural center for the western Pacific region. San Nicolas's education at the university provided him with a foundation for his subsequent career in public service and politics on the island.

Career

Guam Legislature (2013–2019)

San Nicolas first entered elected office in 2012, when he won a seat in the Guam Legislature. He went on to serve three consecutive terms as a senator, representing the people of Guam in the 32nd, 33rd, and 34th Guam legislatures from January 7, 2013, to January 3, 2019.

During his tenure in the 32nd Guam Legislature, San Nicolas was active in introducing and advancing legislation on a range of issues. One of his early legislative efforts involved healthcare infrastructure on the island. He supported legislation related to the maternity ward at the Guam Memorial Hospital, a measure that passed the legislature along with several other bills during that session. The bill, designated as Bill No. B1(8-S), received a vote in the legislature and was part of San Nicolas's broader focus on improving public services for Guam's residents.

San Nicolas also introduced Bill No. B435-32, which addressed matters of governance and public policy on the island. The bill proceeded through the legislative process and received a recorded vote.

In the 33rd Guam Legislature, San Nicolas continued his legislative work. He introduced Bill No. B004-33 at the start of the session. He also participated in the consideration of Bill No. 204-33, which underwent multiple votes in the legislature during January and February 2016.

During the 34th Guam Legislature, San Nicolas introduced Bill No. 11-34, continuing his pattern of legislative activity across multiple policy areas.

In November 2017, while still serving in the 34th Guam Legislature, San Nicolas announced his intention to run for the position of Guam's delegate to the U.S. Congress. His announcement set the stage for his transition from territorial to federal politics.

2018 Congressional Election

San Nicolas entered the 2018 race for Guam's at-large congressional district, seeking to succeed incumbent delegate Madeleine Bordallo, who had held the seat since 2003. The primary election took place in August 2018, with results tallied by the Guam Election Commission.

In the November 2018 general election, San Nicolas won the delegate seat. The election was notable on Guam for multiple reasons, including the election of the territory's first female governor, Lourdes Leon Guerrero. San Nicolas succeeded Bordallo as Guam's representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives (2019–2023)

San Nicolas was sworn into office on January 3, 2019, as the delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Guam's at-large district, marking the beginning of his service in the 116th United States Congress.

Upon arriving in Washington, D.C., San Nicolas joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), which in the 116th Congress boasted record membership. His decision to join the caucus reflected the Chamorro community's historical and cultural connections with the broader Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States, as well as Guam's shared heritage with other Pacific and Latin American cultures.

San Nicolas was elected by his colleagues to serve as vice chair of the United States House Committee on Financial Services, a significant committee assignment that placed him in a position to influence federal financial regulation, banking policy, housing finance, and monetary policy. As a delegate from a U.S. territory, San Nicolas could participate in committee proceedings and vote in committee, though delegates do not have a vote on the House floor on final passage of legislation.

Ethics Investigation

In May 2020, San Nicolas became the subject of media attention regarding a congressional ethics investigation. A former staffer for the delegate provided information to congressional investigators alleging that San Nicolas had engaged in an improper affair with a member of his staff and had potentially violated federal rules governing the conduct of members of Congress and their offices. The allegations were reported by Roll Call and drew attention to the conduct standards expected of members of Congress. San Nicolas faced scrutiny over the allegations during the remainder of his term.

2022 Gubernatorial Campaign

Rather than seek reelection to his congressional seat in 2022, San Nicolas entered the Democratic primary for the 2022 Guamanian gubernatorial election. His decision to pursue the governorship represented an attempt to transition from federal to territorial executive politics. However, San Nicolas lost the Democratic primary, ending his bid for the governorship. His congressional seat was subsequently won by James Moylan, a Republican, who succeeded him as Guam's delegate effective January 3, 2023.

Personal Life

San Nicolas has two children. He has maintained his residence on Guam following his departure from Congress.

Legal Issues

In July 2025, San Nicolas was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired (DWI) and reckless driving. He was subsequently released from jail on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond, as ordered by a magistrate judge.

In September 2025, San Nicolas pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired during his arraignment. The arrest and subsequent legal proceedings generated significant discussion within the Guam community, with public opinion divided on the matter.

Recognition

During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, San Nicolas achieved a notable distinction by being elected as vice chair of the House Committee on Financial Services by his colleagues in the 116th Congress. This appointment was significant as it placed a delegate from a U.S. territory in a leadership role on one of the House's most influential committees, which oversees the nation's banking system, housing finance, securities markets, and monetary policy.

San Nicolas's membership in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during the 116th Congress was part of the caucus's record expansion, as reported by The Hill. His inclusion in the caucus highlighted the cultural and historical connections between Guam's Chamorro community and the broader Hispanic and Latino populations within the United States.

As Guam's delegate, San Nicolas served as the territory's sole representative in the U.S. Congress, a position that carries the responsibility of advocating for the interests of over 160,000 residents on issues ranging from military presence on the island to federal funding and self-determination. While delegates from U.S. territories cannot vote on the House floor on final passage of legislation, they serve on committees, introduce legislation, and participate in floor debate.