2022 United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election

Last updated

2022 United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election
Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg
  2018
November 8, 2022
2026  
Registered39,910
Turnout56.52% Increase2.svg 4.96 pp
  Governor Albert Bryan Jr..jpg Senator Vialet.jpg Smokey Frett.jpg
Nominee Albert Bryan Kurt Vialet Smokey Frett
Party Democratic Independent Independent Citizens Movement
Running mate Tregenza Roach Janelle Sarauw Gregory R. Miller Jr
Popular vote12,1578,244740
Percentage56.14%38.07%3.42%

  USVI Ronald Pickard.jpg
Nominee Ronald Pickard
Party Independent
Running mateElroy Turnbull
Popular vote243
Percentage1.12%

2022 United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election results.svg
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]

Contents

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

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] 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 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 sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Albert
Bryan (D)
Kent
Bernier (D)
None
I AM LLC [10] June 5, 2022752±3.5361%23%15%
June 30, 202259%24%15%

Results

Territory-wide [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Albert Bryan Jr. 4,269 65.04
Democratic Kent Bernier Sr.2,25534.35
N/A Write-in400.61
Total votes6,564 100
St. Croix
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Albert Bryan Jr. 1,656 53.33
Democratic Kent Bernier Sr.1,43246.12
N/A Write-in: Vialet (4), Vialet Sarauw (1), Kurt Vialet and Janelle Sarauw (1), Kurt Vialet (4), Vialet/Sarauw (1), Vialet Sarauw (1), Kurt Vialet (1), Vialet Sarauw (1), Pickard & Turnbull (1), Delroy Smith (1), Deanna James (1)170.55
Total votes3,384 100
St. Thomas/St. John
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Albert Bryan Jr. 2,613 75.54
Democratic Kent Bernier Sr.82323.79
N/A 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)230.66
Total votes3,459 100

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. [11] 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 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." [12]

At a virtual campaign rally, Bryan supporter & Calypsonian 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. [13]

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. [14] Days later, the FBI conducted an investigation into the 2022 election vote count following complaints. [15]

The Bryan-Roach campaign was fined $2,000 by the Elections System for fundraising with Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on September 27, 2022. [16]

Debates

2022 AARP VI & WTJX gubernatorial forum
No.DateHostModeratorLinkParticipants
 P Participant   A Absent   N Non-invitee   I Invitee   W Withdrawn
Albert Bryan Kurt Vialet Ronald Pickard
1October 1, 2022 WTJX-TV LaVerne E. Ragster, Susan V. Ellis PBS [17] PPP
2022 The Virgin Islands Consortium & WTJX lieutenant gubernatorial debate
No.DateHostModeratorLinkParticipants
 P Participant   A Absent   N Non-invitee   I Invitee   W Withdrawn
Tregenza Roach Janelle Sarauw
1October 10, 2022 WTJX-TV Ernice Gilbert PBS [18] PP
2022 The Virgin Islands Consortium & WTJX gubernatorial debate
No.DateHostModeratorLinkParticipants
 P Participant   A Absent   N Non-invitee   I Invitee   W Withdrawn
Albert Bryan Kurt Vialet
1October 13, 2022 WTJX-TV Ernice Gilbert PBS [19] PP

Endorsements

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 sourceDate(s)
administered
RespondentsSample
size
Margin
of error
Kurt
Vialet (I)
Albert
Bryan (D)
Stephen Frett (ICM)Ronald
Pickard (I)
Undecided
None
I AM LLC [10] May 10, 2022Territory-wide40029%33%9%16%
I AM LLC [10] May 10, 2022St. Croix40044%20%
I AM LLC [10] May 10, 2022St. Thomas/St. John40014%46%
VI Tech Stack [26] September 7–13, 2022Territory-wide± 3.82%65025%48%1%1%23%
VI Tech Stack [26] September 7–13, 2022St. Thomas/St. John400± 4.86%18%58%0%1%21%
VI Tech Stack [26] September 7–13, 2022St. Croix250± 6.17%34%37%0%1%25%
I AM LLC [10] October 31, 2022Territory-wide423± 4.74%44%40%4%0%10%
I AM LLC [10] October 31, 2022St. Croix224± 6.53%46%42%6%1%3%
I AM LLC [10] October 31, 2022St. Thomas199± 6.92%38%38%3%0%19%
I AM LLC [10] October 31, 2022St. John199± 6.92%66%22%0%0%11%
Poll sourceSchool districtDate(s)
administered
Vialet / SarauwBryan / RoachPickard / TurnbullFrett / Miller
IEKHS [27] St. Thomas/St. JohnOctober 21, 20221671558746
CAHS St. Thomas/St. JohnOctober 21–25, 20221851737929
St. Croix Educational Complex St. CroixOctober 21, 20222831201642
St. Croix Central High School St. CroixOctober 28, 20222792262338
Lew Muckle Elementary SchoolSt. Croix532660

Results

CandidateRunning matePartyVotes%
Albert Bryan Jr. Tregenza Roach Democratic Party 12,15756.14
Kurt Vialet Janelle K. Sarauw Independent8,24438.07
Stephen "Smokey" FrettGregory R. Miller Jr. Independent Citizens Movement 7403.42
Ronald PickardElroy TurnbullIndependent2431.12
Write in2721.26
Total21,656100.00
Total votes22,557
Registered voters/turnout39,91056.52
Source: [28]

Results by district

DistrictBryan (D)Vialet (I)Frett (I)Pickard (I)Write-inTotal
St. Croix4,502
(43.35%)
5,378
(51.79%)
213
(2.05%)
126
(1.21%)
166
(1.6%)
10,385
St. Thomas/St. John7,042
(68.48%)
2,548
(24.78%)
492
(4.78%)
112
(1.09%)
90
(0.88%)
10,284

Results by precinct

PrecinctBryanVialetFrettPickardWrite-inTotal
Alexander Henderson42858737
12
21
1,085
Claude O. Markoe292442301220796
Evelyn Williams421529911331,003
Eulalie R. Rivera2853991088710
Alfredo Andrews205231683450
St. Croix Educational Complex376544331020983
Ricardo Richards49247313912999
Lew Muckle33851018148888
Juanita Gardine442483171610968
John F. Kennedy Terrace117165144291
Elena L. Christian4554941559978
Pearl B. Larsen5163211488867
Florence A. Williams Library15718110910367
Ivanna Eudora Kean4351432954616
Joseph A. Gomez4971693364709
Bertha C. Boschulte43814831113631
CAHS Gymnasium739242611891,069
Oswald Harris Court156871842267
Winston Raymo Rec. Center35711026610509
Gladys Abraham1,0663526412181,512
Addelita Cancryn1,0233509819161,506
Joseph Sibilly76725834981,076
Charles W. Turnbull Library1,1453678116161,625
Julius E. Sprauve3602301420606
Guy Benjamin5992340158
STX Absentee165204624381
STT/STJ Absentee3979128211529
STT/STJ Provisional512311177

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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 I AM LLC
  11. "Sarauw defends against anonymous accusations". The Virgin Islands Daily News. June 21, 2017.
  12. "Sarauw Defends Record as Document of Her Reprimand While a Teacher at CAHS Surfaces". The Virgin Islands Consortium. September 26, 2022.
  13. "Bryan Apologizes After King Derby Calls Sarauw 'He/She' During Virtual Rally". The Virgin Islands Consortium. October 3, 2022.
  14. "Elections System certifies general election results". The Virgin Islands Daily News. November 19, 2022.
  15. "Feds Probe Nov. 8 Video; Elections Releases FBI Results". St. Thomas Source. December 22, 2022.
  16. "Elections Fines Bryan-Roach Campaign for 'Illegal' Endorsement at Virtual Rally". St. Thomas Source. January 16, 2023.
  17. PBS
  18. PBS
  19. PBS
  20. "Campaign Rally - Pedro Pierluisi". Facebook. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  21. "A message from the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi". Facebook. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  22. "The Virgin Islands Consortium - PedEndorsement". The Virgin Islands Consortium. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  23. "Campaign Rally -Roosevelt Skerrit". Facebook. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  24. "The Virgin Islands Consortium - Roosevelt Skerrit Endorsement". The Virgin Islands Consortium. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  25. "The Virgin Islands Consortium". The Virgin Islands Consortium. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  26. 1 2 3 VI Tech Stack
  27. IEKHS
  28. "2022 General Election". Election System of the Virgin Islands.