Gubernatorial elections were held in American Samoa on 8 November 1977, with a run-off between the top two candidates on 22 November. Peter Tali Coleman was elected with 56% of the vote in the second round.
This election was the first gubernatorial election ever to be held in American SÃÂmoa. It featured multiple two-person tickets for governor and lieutenant governor. The leading slates were Peter ColemanâÂÂTufele Liûamatua; A. P. LutaliâÂÂFofo I. F. Sunia; and A. U. FuimaonoâÂÂLutu Tenari. Because victory required an absolute majority, ColemanâÂÂs first-round plurality (40.2%) triggered a runoff, which he won. He assumed office on January 3, 1978, as the territoryâÂÂs first elected governor.
Former appointed governor Peter Tali Coleman ran with Tufele Liamatua as his running mate for lieutenant governor. The territory's delegate at-large A. P. Lutali ran with Fofà  Iosefa Fiti Sunia, a Senator. Former delegate at-large A. U. Fuimaono ran alongside Senator Lutu T. S. Fuimaono.