2022 United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election

See also: 2022 United States gubernatorial elections

2022 United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election
November 8, 2022
Registered39,910
Turnout56.52%
 
Nominee Albert Bryan Kurt Vialet Smokey Frett
Party Democratic Independent Independent Citizens Movement
Running mate Tregenza Roach Janelle Sarauw Gregory R. Miller Jr
Popular vote 12,157 8,244 740
Percentage 56.14% 38.07% 3.42%
 
Nominee Ronald Pickard
Party Independent
Running mate Elroy Turnbull
Popular vote 243
Percentage 1.12%
Results by district
Bryan:       Vialet:      
Governor before election

Albert Bryan
Democratic

Elected Governor

Albert Bryan
Democratic

The 2022 U.S. Virgin Islands gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of the United States Virgin Islands. The election was held concurrently with the 2022 United States midterm elections.[1]

Incumbent Democratic governor Albert Bryan won a second four-year term in office, receiving 56% of the vote. He defeated Independent candidate and territorial senator Kurt Vialet, independent activist Ronald Pickard, and former senator Stephen Frett of the Independent Citizens Movement.[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Defeated in primary

  • Kent Bernier Sr.
    • Oakland Benta, former Virgin Islands Senator

The 2022 Democratic primary for governor was held on August 6, 2022.[3] Incumbents Governor Albert Bryan and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach were challenged by Kent Bernier Sr. and his running mate, Oakland Benta.[4] Early voting took place July 18 through August 1, 2022.[5] On election night, unofficial results indicated Bryan won the nomination with 4,016 votes over Bernier, who received 2,146 votes.[6]

Debates

The Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands scheduled a gubernatorial forum with WTJX for July 14, 2022. Three days prior, the Bernier-Benta team withdrew from the forum and insisted a debate with Bryan and Roach.[7]

Endorsements

Albert Bryan

Organizations

Individuals

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Albert
Bryan (D) 		Kent
Bernier (D) 		None
I AM LLC[10] June 5, 2022 752 ±3.53 61% 23% 15%
June 30, 2022 59% 24% 15%
Poll source District(s) Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Albert
Bryan (D) 		Kent
Bernier (D) 		Undecided
(or) None
Rattan Poll by Raymond James Territorial
St. Croix
St. Thomas 		— 160 — 48%
40%
62% 		32%
44%
14% 		20%
16%
24%
What issues concern you the most? Do you believe the USVI on the right track?
Healthcare: 35
Electricity: 30
Education: 20
Crime: 15 		St. Croix district Wrong direction: 80%, right direction: 14%, unsure: 5%, No opinion: 1% St. Thomas district Wrong direction: 45%, right direction: 32%, unsure: 13%, No opinion: 1%

Results

Territorial

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Albert Bryan Jr.Tregenza RoachDemocratic4,26965.04
Kent Bernier Sr.Oakland BentaDemocratic2,25534.35
Write in400.61
Total6,564100.00
Source: [11]

St. Croix

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Albert Bryan Jr.Tregenza RoachDemocratic1,65653.33
Kent Bernier Sr.Oakland BentaDemocratic1,43246.12
Write in170.55
Total3,105100.00
Source: [12]

St. Thomas/St. John

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Albert Bryan Jr.Tregenza RoachDemocratic2,61375.54
Kent Bernier Sr.Oakland BentaDemocratic82323.79
Write in230.66
Total3,459100.00
Source: [13]

By precinct

Precinct Bryan Bernier Write-in Total
Alexander Henderson 178 178 — 356
Claude O. Markoe 98 129 5 232
Evelyn M. Williams 141 158 2 301
Eulalie R. Rivera 81 95 1 177
Alfredo Andrews 60 47 1 108
St. Croix Educational Complex 121 125 2 248
Ricardo Richards 174 128 1 303
Lew Muckle 135 127 2 264
Juanita Gardine 183 125 — 308
John F. Kennedy Terrace 41 39 1 81
Elena L. Christian 159 99 2 260
Pearl B. Larsen 173 72 — 245
Florence Williams Library 57 48 — 105
Ivanna Eudora Kean 128 38 — 166
Joseph A. Gomez 200 54 1 255
Bertha C. Boschulte 136 50 4 190
CAHS Gym 278 113 3 394
Oswald Harris Court 53 18 1 72
Winston Raymo Rec. Center 126 48 — 174
Gladys A. Abraham 430 121 2 553
Addelita Cancryn 346 126 5 477
Joseph Sibilly 242 62 1 305
Charles W. Turnbull Regional Library 401 114 3 518
Julius E. Sprauve 106 34 3 143
Guy Benjamin 13 2 — 15
STX Absentee 55 50 — 105
STX Provisional — — — —
STT/STJ Absentee 127 32 — 159
STT/STJ Provisional — — — —

General election

The general election was held on November 8, 2022, with incumbent governor Albert Bryan facing three candidates: St. Croix Senator Kurt Vialet, former police officer Ronald Pickard, and former senator Stephen Frett. Early voting started October 10 and ran through October 31, 2022.

A divisive election, Sarauw again faced questions about her tenure at CAHS as a teacher, which was mentioned during her 2016 senatorial bid.[14] She pushed back by stating the reprimand letter was for being the most inspiring teacher during the 2009–2010 school year, and an honor from the Middle States Association and any unbecoming behavior she may have exhibited during her tenure as an educator at CAHS, could also be attributed to her age, 21 at the time. "I was 21, I was a baby. I was 21 then, I'm making 37 in two days, and people grow, evolve and they mature."[15]

At a virtual campaign rally, Bryan supporter & Calypsonian King Derby referred to Sarauw as "he/she" and Vialet as "that long-neck fella." The commentary drew outcry from the community, which led to Bryan apologizing days later.[16]

On election day, incumbents Governor Albert Bryan and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach won 12,157 votes (56.14%), while their closest rivals, Kurt Vialet and Janelle Sarauw, received 8,244 votes (38.07%). Election results were certified a few days later.[17] In December 2022, the FBI conducted an investigation into the 2022 election vote count following complaints.[18]

The Bryan-Roach campaign was fined $2,000 by the Elections System for fundraising with Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on September 27, 2022.[19]

Debates

2022 AARP VI & WTJX gubernatorial forum
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee   W  Withdrawn
Albert Bryan Kurt Vialet Ronald Pickard
1 October 1, 2022 WTJX-TV LaVerne E. Ragster, Susan V. Ellis PBS[20] P P P
2022 Virgin Islands Consortium & WTJX lieutenant gubernatorial debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee   W  Withdrawn
Tregenza Roach Janelle Sarauw
1 October 10, 2022 WTJX-TV Ernice Gilbert PBS[21] P P
2022 Virgin Islands Consortium & WTJX gubernatorial debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee   W  Withdrawn
Albert Bryan Kurt Vialet
1 October 13, 2022 WTJX-TV Ernice Gilbert PBS[22] P P

Endorsements

Albert Bryan (D)
Kurt Vialet (I)
  • Cedric Armstrong, owner of Armstrong Ice Cream
  • Dr. Brittany Dawson, certified nurse‐midwife
  • Nereida Rivera-O'Reilly, former St. Croix Senator (2009–2019)

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Respondents Sample
size 		Margin
of error 		Kurt
Vialet (I) 		Albert
Bryan (D) 		Stephen Frett (ICM) Ronald
Pickard (I) 		Undecided
None
I AM LLC[10] May 10, 2022 Territorial 400 – 29% 33% – 9% 16%
I AM LLC[10] May 10, 2022 St. Croix 400 – 44% 20%
I AM LLC[10] May 10, 2022 St. Thomas/St. John 400 – 14% 46%
VI Tech Stack[29] September 7–13, 2022 Territorial ± 3.82% 650 25% 48% 1% 1% 23%
VI Tech Stack[29] September 7–13, 2022 St. Thomas/St. John 400 ± 4.86% 18% 58% 0% 1% 21%
VI Tech Stack[29] September 7–13, 2022 St. Croix 250 ± 6.17% 34% 37% 0% 1% 25%
I AM LLC[10] October 31, 2022 Territorial 423 ± 4.74% 44% 40% 4% 0% 10%
I AM LLC[10] October 31, 2022 St. Croix 224 ± 6.53% 46% 42% 6% 1% 3%
I AM LLC[10] October 31, 2022 St. Thomas 199 ± 6.92% 38% 38% 3% 0% 19%
I AM LLC[10] October 31, 2022 St. John 199 ± 6.92% 66% 22% 0% 0% 11%
Poll source School district Date(s)
administered 		Vialet / Sarauw Bryan / Roach Pickard / Turnbull Frett / Miller
IEKHS[30] St. Thomas/St. John October 21, 2022 167 155 87 46
CAHS St. Thomas/St. John October 21–25, 2022 185 173 79 29
St. Croix Educational Complex St. Croix October 21, 2022 283 120 16 42
St. Croix Central High School St. Croix October 28, 2022 279 226 23 38
Lew Muckle Elementary School St. Croix — 53 26 6 0

Results

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Albert Bryan Jr.Tregenza RoachDemocratic Party12,15756.14
Kurt VialetJanelle K. SarauwIndependent8,24438.07
Stephen "Smokey" FrettGregory R. Miller Jr.Independent Citizens Movement7403.42
Ronald PickardElroy TurnbullIndependent2431.12
Write in2721.26
Total21,656100.00
Total votes22,557–
Registered voters/turnout39,91056.52
Source: [31]

By district

District Bryan (D) Vialet (I) Frett (I) Pickard (I) Write-in Total
St. Croix 4,502
(43.35%) 		5,378
(51.79%) 		213
(2.05%) 		126
(1.21%) 		166
(1.6%) 		10,385
St. Thomas/St. John 7,042
(68.48%) 		2,548
(24.78%) 		492
(4.78%) 		112
(1.09%) 		90
(0.88%) 		10,284

By precinct

  • Note: Pearl B. Larsen precinct flipped from Independent to Democratic. While Guy Benjamin precinct flipped from Democratic hold to Independent for the first time.
Precinct Bryan Vialet Frett Pickard Write-in Total
Alexander Henderson 428 587 37
 12
 21
 1,085
Claude O. Markoe 292 442 30 12 20 796
Evelyn Williams 421 529 9 11 33 1,003
Eulalie R. Rivera 285 399 10 8 8 710
Alfredo Andrews 205 231 6 8 3 450
St. Croix Educational Complex 376 544 33 10 20 983
Ricardo Richards 492 473 13 9 12 999
Lew Muckle 338 510 18 14 8 888
Juanita Gardine 442 483 17 16 10 968
John F. Kennedy Terrace 117 165 1 4 4 291
Elena L. Christian 455 494 15 5 9 978
Pearl B. Larsen 516 321 14 8 8 867
Florence A. Williams Library 157 181 10 9 10 367
Ivanna Eudora Kean 435 143 29 5 4 616
Joseph A. Gomez 497 169 33 6 4 709
Bertha C. Boschulte 438 148 31 11 3 631
CAHS Gymnasium 739 242 61 18 9 1,069
Oswald Harris Court 156 87 18 4 2 267
Winston Raymo Rec. Center 357 110 26 6 10 509
Gladys Abraham 1,066 352 64 12 18 1,512
Addelita Cancryn 1,023 350 98 19 16 1,506
Joseph Sibilly 767 258 34 9 8 1,076
Charles W. Turnbull Library 1,145 367 81 16 16 1,625
Julius E. Sprauve 360 230 14 2 0 606
Guy Benjamin 59 92 3 4 0 158
STX Absentee 165 204 6 2 4 381
STT/STJ Absentee 397 91 28 2 11 529
STT/STJ Provisional 51 23 1 1 1 77

References

  1. ^ "2022 Midterm Elections". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "Bryan-Roach Secure Second Term With More than 11K Votes in General Election". St. Thomas Source. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "2022 Primary Election". Election System of the Virgin Islands. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  4. ^ "Kent Bernier Sr. Announced His Bid For Governor". St. Thomas Source. June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  5. ^ "Early Voting Gets Underway for 2022 Primary Election". St. Thomas Source. July 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "Bryan/Roach beat out Bernier/Benta in primary election". Virgin Islands Daily News. August 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Bernier-Benta Gubernatorial Team Backs Out of Forum With Bryan and Roach; Cecile Benjamin 'Flabbergasted' at Withdrawal". The Virgin Islands Consortium.
  8. ^ "Democratic Governors Association Issues Ringing Endorsement Supporting Reelection of Bryan-Roach Administration".
  9. ^ "West End Democratic Club Endorses the Bryan/Roach Team". St. Thomas Source. May 25, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h I AM LLC
  11. ^ "2022 Primary Election" (PDF). Election System of the Virgin Islands.
  12. ^ "2022 Primary Election" (PDF). Election System of the Virgin Islands.
  13. ^ "2022 Primary Election" (PDF). Election System of the Virgin Islands.
  14. ^ "Sarauw defends against anonymous accusations". The Virgin Islands Daily News. June 21, 2017.
  15. ^ "Sarauw Defends Record as Document of Her Reprimand While a Teacher at CAHS Surfaces". The Virgin Islands Consortium. September 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "Bryan Apologizes After King Derby Calls Sarauw 'He/She' During Virtual Rally". The Virgin Islands Consortium. October 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "Elections System certifies general election results". The Virgin Islands Daily News. November 19, 2022.
  18. ^ "Feds Probe Nov. 8 Video; Elections Releases FBI Results". St. Thomas Source. December 22, 2022.
  19. ^ "Elections Fines Bryan-Roach Campaign for 'Illegal' Endorsement at Virtual Rally". St. Thomas Source. January 16, 2023.
  20. ^ PBS
  21. ^ PBS
  22. ^ PBS
  23. ^ "Campaign Rally - Pedro Pierluisi". Facebook. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  24. ^ "A message from the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi". Facebook. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  25. ^ "The Virgin Islands Consortium - PedEndorsement". The Virgin Islands Consortium. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  26. ^ "Campaign Rally -Roosevelt Skerrit". Facebook. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  27. ^ "The Virgin Islands Consortium - Roosevelt Skerrit Endorsement". The Virgin Islands Consortium. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  28. ^ "The Virgin Islands Consortium". The Virgin Islands Consortium. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  29. ^ a b c VI Tech Stack
  30. ^ IEKHS
  31. ^ "2022 General Election". Election System of the Virgin Islands.
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