Who's running for the U.S. Virgin Islands' delegate to Congress
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Researched by Ballot Explained and checked against the sources cited on this page. Last reviewed . How we research · Report a correction
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Health care first: Medicare carve-outs for the territory and lower prescription drug costs, working with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Building alliances with other territories and states through the Congressional Black Caucus and the Hispanic Caucus, then seeking committees relevant to the territory.
Renegotiating the rum cover-over rate, which she says should be a percentage rather than a fixed $13.25 per proof gallon.
Challenging federal disparities affecting the Virgin Islands, including disaster-recovery cost shares and mail service.
Keeping her independence inside the party: she says joining would not stop her challenging its leadership.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Senator for St. Thomas-St. John, July 2017 to January 2023. Chaired the Senate's disaster recovery committee.
Former public school teacher.
Won the August 1 2026 Democratic primary with 5,167 of 9,763 votes (52.9%), per the Elections System's official results.
In June 2026, a Broward County, Florida judge denied a former partner's petition for a domestic-violence injunction against her, finding that recent violence or imminent danger had not been proven. The judge also said there had been violence by both parties earlier in the relationship.
Raised $38,113 and spent $36,385 before the primary, per FEC data reported by the St. Thomas Source.
Arguments in favor
She has the legislative experience and familiarity with territorial policy for the job. The next delegate must build alliances while "aggressively challenging federal disparities", and she ran an "above-board" campaign focused on the issues.
— Janelle Sarauw and her campaign, as reported by the V.I. Consortium and the St. Thomas Source
Arguments against
Sarauw is "misleading" voters in suggesting she could work with a Republican majority. Smith also said Sarauw's character "has been brought to the spotlight by nobody but herself," and that the delegate should be someone "mature" and "responsible" who will "live within the laws."
— Delia Smith, former U.S. attorney and her Democratic primary opponent, at the July 9 debate, as reported by the St. Thomas Source
What we couldn’t verify
Whether she has a campaign website. None was found.
General-election fundraising after the primary.
Which House committees she would seek, and how she would work with a Republican administration through January 2029.
Reparative justice from Denmark for the colonial era. His group's claim before a European court uses a $681 billion baseline figure, and he wants a reparative fund to pay for a status plebiscite.
Letting Virgin Islanders choose their own political status, among independence, free association, or full U.S. citizenship rights.
Equal ballot-access rules for independent and party candidates. He has argued in court that independents face materially higher signature requirements.
Requiring political parties to file campaign-finance reports like other political committees.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
President of the African-Caribbean Reparations and Resettlement Alliance (ACRRA). ACRRA signed a memorandum of understanding on reparations with the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
Special adviser for external affairs to Gov. Kenneth Mapp, and appointed in 2016 as secretary general of the Inter-Virgin Islands Council.
In 2026, a plaintiff in two suits against the Elections System: one asking whether political parties must file campaign-finance reports, and one challenging ballot-access rules for independents.
Drew the second ballot position in the Elections System's casting of lots. The Elections System's ballot spells his name "Moorhead"; some St. Thomas filings spell it "Moorehead".
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No 2026 reporting was found in which a named supporter or opponent assessed Moorhead's candidacy. Searched: the St. Thomas Source, the V.I. Consortium, the V.I. Daily News. Both argument columns are left empty rather than filled from one side only.
His positions on the issues the delegate handles day to day, such as Medicaid, disaster-recovery funding and the rum cover-over. No campaign platform was found.
Whether the campaign has a website, and its fundraising.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
The U.S. Virgin Islands elects one delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for a two-year term. The delegate can introduce bills and vote in committee but cannot cast a final vote on the House floor. The seat is open because Delegate Stacey Plaskett is running for governor. Two candidates are on the November 3 2026 ballot, in this order as set by the Elections System's casting of lots: Democrat Janelle Sarauw and independent Shelley Moorhead. There is also a write-in line. No Republican filed. Sarauw won the August 1 Democratic primary with 5,167 of 9,763 votes, over former U.S. Attorney Delia Smith (3,202), Teri Helenese (848) and former Sen. Emmett Hansen (522), per the Elections System's official results. Ten people filed for the seat in May. Independents James Weber III and Brett McClafferty were left off the certified list after signature reviews; McClafferty's challenge has been in federal court. Federal law (48 U.S.C. § 1712) requires the Virgin Islands delegate to win a majority of the votes cast. If no one does, the top two meet in a runoff, which the Elections System has scheduled for November 17. Roster from the Elections System of the Virgin Islands' sample ballots, certified candidate list and primary results, cross-checked with the St. Thomas Source and the V.I. Consortium.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
The ballot in the U.S. Virgin Islands also carries legislative seats and other territory offices that we do not cover. They are listed, with registration and early-voting dates and how the winner is decided, on the U.S. Virgin Islands page.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Elections System of the Virgin Islands.