Incumbent Democratic governor Albert Bryan was elected to a second four-year term in office, receiving 56% of the vote. He ran against Independent candidate and territorial senator Kurt Vialet, independent activist Ronald Pickard, and former ICM senator Stephen Frett.[2]
Democratic primary
Registered voters: 34,697
Turnout: 20.36%
Voting centers: St. Croix - David Canegata Recreation Center, Arthur A. Richards K-8 School Modular Cafeteria, St. Croix Central High School Gymnasium; St. Thomas - Tutu Park Mall (former Scotiabank location), CAHS Gymnasium, UVI Sports and Fitness Center; St. John - Calabash Boom Community Center
The 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary 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 began July 18 until August 1, 2022.[5] The first set of results came in at 8:45pm showing a close race between Bryan (566 votes) and Bernier (469 votes). Later into the night, Bryan commanded his lead with 3,270 votes compare to Bernier with 1,831 votes as early voting ballots were counted. Following a delay of votes at two voting sites on St. Thomas, unofficial results indicated Bryan with 4,016 votes won the nomination over Bernier, who received 2,146 votes.[6]
Debates
The Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands scheduled a Democratic gubernatorial forum with WTJX for July 14, 2022. Three days prior, the Bernier-Benta team withdrew from the forum and insisted on a debate with Bryan and Roach.[7]
Write-in: Vialet Sarauw (10), Blank (3), Janelle Sarauw (2), My Lord & Savior (1), Albert Bryan (1), Vialet (1), David Silverman (1), No Crooks (1), None of above (1), E (1), Smokey Frett (1)
23
0.66
Total votes
3,459
100
General election
The gubernatorial 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.
In this divisive election, Sarauw again faced questions about her tenure at CAHS as a teacher, which was mentioned during her 2016 Senate campaign.[12] She pushed back by stating that the reprimand letter was for being the most inspiring teacher during the 2009–2010 school year, and an honor from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools 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 that 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."[13]
At a virtual campaign rally, Bryan supporter King Derby sang "Roach & His Sluxter" while referring 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.[14]
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 on November 18, 2022.[15]
The Bryan campaign was fined $2,000 by the Elections System after fundraising with Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on September 27.[16]
Voting centers: St. Croix - David Canegata Recreation Center, St. Dunstan's Episcopal School auditorium, St. Croix Central High School Modular Gymnasium, St. Croix Educational Complex Gymnasium, and Arthur A. Richards K-8 School Modular Cafeteria; St. Thomas - Tutu Park Mall (former Scotiabank location), CAHS Gymnasium, UVI Sports and Fitness Center, Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Cafeteria; St. John - Julius E. Sprauve School Cafeteria, Calabash Boom Community Center.
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