Five Tickets Vie for Governor as Virgin Islands Election Enters Final Stretch

Plaskett, four independent candidates compete to succeed term-limited Gov. Albert Bryan Jr.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The race to become the next governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands is entering its final stretch, with five gubernatorial tickets set to face voters in the November 3 general election.

The contest is an open-seat race following two terms by Democratic Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who is barred by term limits from seeking another term.

The field includes one Democratic ticket and four independent tickets, setting up a competitive election that will determine the territory's leadership for the next four years.

The five tickets, in the order they will appear on the general-election ballot, are:

No. 1 — Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg and Positive Nelson

Former senators Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg and Positive Nelson are running as independents. Their ticket will be first on the November ballot following the Elections System's official drawing for ballot positions.

No. 2 — Warren Mosler and Colin Robertson

Businessman and economist Warren Mosler is running for governor with Colin Robertson as his lieutenant-governor running mate. The independent ticket drew the second position on the general-election ballot.

No. 3 — Stacey E. Plaskett and Milton E. Potter

The Democratic ticket is led by Delegate to Congress Stacey E. Plaskett, who is seeking to move from Washington to the territory's top elected office.

Plaskett selected Senate President Milton E. Potter as her running mate. The two officially filed their nomination papers in May and campaigned under the message “People Powered, Ready to Deliver.”

Plaskett won the Democratic gubernatorial primary on August 1, receiving approximately 48% of the vote. Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach finished second with about 32%, while former Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory received about 20%.

If elected, Plaskett would make history as the first woman to serve as governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

No. 4 — Oakland Benta and Merwin Potter

Former senator and former St. Croix police chief Oakland Benta is running as an independent with Merwin Potter as his lieutenant-governor running mate.

The ticket will appear fourth on the November ballot.

No. 5 — Gustav James and Randolph Bennett

Gustav James is also running as an independent, with former commissioner Randolph Bennett as his running mate.

The ticket drew the fifth and final gubernatorial position on the general-election ballot.

Issues facing the next administration

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The candidates are competing at a time when voters are closely focused on some of the territory's longstanding challenges, including the reliability and cost of electricity, roads and other infrastructure, health care, education, public safety, housing, economic development and the territory's financial future.

Those issues are likely to play a major role in determining which candidate can build the broadest coalition among voters on St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John and Water Island.

For the Plaskett-Potter campaign, priorities listed by the ticket include health care, energy, education, government, agriculture, disaster recovery, public safety, digital infrastructure, tourism and housing.

The independent candidates are also seeking to distinguish themselves from the Democratic ticket and present voters with alternatives to the territory's established political leadership.

A wide-open race

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With no incumbent on the ballot, the 2026 election represents one of the territory's most significant gubernatorial contests in years.

Bryan, who was first elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022, cannot seek a third consecutive term under the territory's two-term limit.

The August Democratic primary eliminated Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and former Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory from the governor's race, leaving Plaskett as the Democratic nominee.

The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Under Virgin Islands election rules, if no gubernatorial candidate receives a majority, the top two candidates advance to a runoff election.

With five tickets competing for the territory's highest elected office, voters will ultimately decide whether to continue with Democratic leadership, choose one of four independent alternatives, or send the territory in a new political direction.

The governor elected in November will inherit responsibility for addressing the territory's most pressing economic, infrastructure, public safety and quality-of-life challenges while navigating the complex relationship between the local government and the federal government.