2025 Bermudian general election

2025 Bermudian general election

←  2020 February 18, 2025 (2025-02-18) 2030 →
All 36 seats in the House of Assembly 19 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	54.99% ( 6.21 pp)
First party Second party   Leader Edward David Burt Jarion Richardson Party PLP OBA Last election 62.09%, 30 seats 32.27%, 6 seats Seats won 25 11 Seat change 5 5 Popular vote 12,300 9,133 Percentage 49.64% 36.86% Swing 12.45pp 4.59pp
Premier before election Edward David Burt PLP Elected Premier TBD

General elections were held in Bermuda on 18 February 2025 to elect all 36 members of the House of Assembly. ^[1]

Background

Prior to the election, the PLP was the dominant party in Bermudian politics, having unseated the OBA in the 2017 general election. In the subsequent 2020 election, the PLP expanded its majority to 30 seats.

Premier Edward David Burt has governed Bermuda since winning the 2017 general election. He has announced on October 19, 2022, his intention to step down as PLP leader in 2026. ^[2]

Electoral system

The House of Assembly has 36 members, elected by first-past-the-post voting from single-member constituencies. ^[3]

Campaign

The 2025 general election featured a record-setting 109 candidates, including representatives from the PLP, OBA, FDM, and numerous independents. ^[4] Emperial Group filed a single candidate. ^[5]

Economic issues, particularly the cost of living and social programs, were central to the campaign. While the PLP emphasized efforts to reduce high costs and highlighted its governing record on fairness, the OBA criticized the government's handling of economic and social issues, positioning itself as an alternative to improve governance. ^{[6] [7]}

Political analysts predicted a closer contest compared to the 2020 election, suggesting that while the PLP was expected to retain power, its victory margin would narrow. ^[8]

Contesting parties

Party		Position	Ideology	Last election
	Progressive Labour Party	Centre-left	Social conservatism [9] Social democracy Anti-colonialism	30 / 36 (83%)
	One Bermuda Alliance	Centre-right	Liberal conservatism	6 / 36 (17%)
	Free Democratic Movement	Centre-right	Conservative liberalism Subsidiarity	0 / 36 (0%)

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Progressive Labour Party	12,300	49.64	25	–5
	One Bermuda Alliance	9,133	36.86	11	+5
	Free Democratic Movement	949	3.83	0	0
	Emperial Group	116	0.47	0	New
	Independents	2,281	9.21	0	0
Total		24,779	100.00	36	0
Valid votes		24,779	100.00
Invalid/blank votes		0	0.00
Total votes		24,779	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		45,064	54.99
Source: Parliamentary Registry

Reactions

In a speech outside party headquarters after the election, David Burt reaffirmed his party's commitment to focus on tackling the high cost of living, expensive healthcare, and reform the education system. He emphasized his party’s support for lower and middle-class residents and declared that "Bermudians have chosen progress, fairness, and a PLP government that will deliver for you." ^{[10] [11]}

Jarion Richardson, leader of the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA), acknowledged the election results and reaffirmed his party’s commitment to Bermuda. He pledged to serve as a "strong and dedicated opposition" and encouraged OBA candidates, both elected and unelected, to remain engaged in efforts to strengthen the party and the country. ^[12]

References

1. "General Election called for February 18th, 2025". Bermuda Broadcasting Company. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
2. Connolly, Shaun (2022-10-19). "David Burt commits to stepping aside in 2026 but insists he will be no lame-duck leader". www.royalgazette.com. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
3. Bermuda: Election for Bermudian House of Assembly IFES
4. "Interactive Map: Candidates & Constituencies". Bernews. 2025-02-16. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
5. Bell, Jonathan (2025-02-08). "OBA acknowledges Emperial Group's support of candidate". www.royalgazette.com. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
6. "Premier Delivers Closing Campaign Remarks". Bernews. 2025-02-17. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
7. Team, Communications (2025-01-08). "Bermuda General Election 2025 - One Bermuda Alliance" . Retrieved 2025-02-20.
8. Finighan, Gareth (2025-02-15). "Commentators: PLP will lose seats but still win election". www.royalgazette.com. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
9. "Bermuda's government fights against same-sex marriage in Court of Appeal". 8 November 2018.
10. "Bermuda's center-left PLP wins third consecutive general election". Yahoo News. 2025-02-19. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
11. Burgess, Don (February 19, 2025). "Bermuda's center-left PLP wins third consecutive general election". Reuters.
12. McWhirter, Fiona (2025-02-19). "Third time's a charm as Burt savours victory for PLP". www.royalgazette.com. Retrieved 2025-02-19.