Who's running for governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
5 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.
"Transparency, accountability, and efficiency across all government agencies."
A "sensible, sensitive government" that treats residents with dignity, in response to what the campaign calls an "increasingly unsustainable cost of living."
Upgrading roads, utilities, public facilities and essential systems.
Better resources and planning for students, teachers and schools.
Opportunities for workers, small businesses and entrepreneurs, plus protection of land, water and natural resources.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Senator for St. Thomas-St. John for seven terms, 1995-2011, including a period as Senate president.
Ran for governor as an independent in 2006 and lost. Challenged Gov. John de Jongh in the 2010 Democratic primary and lost, 7,487 votes to 4,300. Ran again as an independent in 2018 and finished third with 4,201 votes.
In 2006, the V.I. Daily News reported that a bachelor's degree on his resume came from Madison University, an unaccredited school. Donastorg said he did not know about the accreditation problem.
Arrested in 2010 on domestic violence charges. The accuser recanted, and a jury acquitted him of all charges in September 2010.
Running mate Positive Nelson served seven Senate terms for St. Croix, was agriculture commissioner from 2019, and later served as Gov. Bryan's special adviser on cannabis.
Drew the first ballot position in the Elections System's casting of lots.
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 made an argument for or against this ticket. Searched: the St. Thomas Source, the V.I. Consortium, the V.I. Daily News and the campaign's site. Both argument columns are left empty rather than filled from one side only.
Specific 2026 positions on WAPA, the hospitals, disaster-recovery spending and the territory's finances. The campaign site states broad priorities only.
Campaign fundraising and spending.
Whether the ticket took part in the AARP-WTJX gubernatorial forum or the Virgin Islands Medical Society forum. The Society says only Benta and James attended its forum.
A citizens dividend fund modelled on Alaska's, paying "everybody who votes" $20,000 to $25,000 whenever "serious money" is secured from revenue sources outside the normal tax system, while government runs on existing revenue.
Cutting power bills by increasing WAPA's electricity sales: importing $7,000-$8,000 electric cars from China so the utility's fixed costs are spread over more usage. He acknowledges gas stations would close over time.
Rebuilding major roads in concrete, which he says costs about twice as much upfront but lasts about ten times longer, using a FEMA funding pathway for long-term savings.
Argues the territory should have placed a tax lien on Jeffrey Epstein's estate rather than pursuing a lawsuit, and says that money could have funded the dividend.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Founded Illinois Income Investors in 1982. Founder of Mosler Automotive. Author of "Seven Deadly Innocent Frauds of Economic Policy" (2010).
Moved to the Virgin Islands around 2010. Operates a passenger ferry between St. Croix and St. Thomas.
Ran for U.S. Senate in Connecticut in 2010 as an independent (under 1%). Ran three times for USVI delegate (2010-2012), briefly for lieutenant governor in 2014, and for governor in 2018, finishing fourth with 4.7%.
Drew the second ballot position in the Elections System's casting of lots.
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 Mosler's candidacy or his dividend proposal. 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.
Which revenue sources Mosler says he has identified to fund the dividend. He has said he has "identified several more sources" but did not name them in the coverage found.
Whether a dividend paid only to people who vote is legally permissible.
Background of running mate Colin Robertson.
Whether the campaign has a website, and its fundraising.
"Two nationally accredited hospitals within six years", plus senior-care and mental health facilities and recruitment of medical professionals.
Rebuilding WAPA with the $4.7 billion already secured, to deliver "reliable and affordable power."
Measurable gains in math and reading, early literacy and after-school programs, teacher incentives, and trade pathways.
A more open government with public dashboards and a 311 service-request system.
Expanding transshipment and technology, and running government on performance: "I will fire your ass if you don't work."
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Delegate to the U.S. House from the Virgin Islands since January 2015.
House impeachment manager in President Trump's second impeachment trial (2021).
In November 2025, the House rejected 214-209 a Republican resolution to censure her and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over text messages with Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 hearing.
A 2023 civil suit by six anonymous women that named her over alleged ties to Epstein was dismissed with prejudice in 2026. Her campaign says no settlement was paid.
Won the August 1 2026 Democratic primary with 4,742 votes, per the Elections System's official results.
Raised $308,473 in the first half of 2026, far more than her primary rivals, per the St. Thomas Source's review of disclosures.
Arguments in favor
Plaskett was union members' choice after the Democratic debate, as a leader who can "tap the resources and talents of the unionized workers" of the territory.
— U.S. Virgin Islands Area Labor Federation and its president, Carver Farrow, as reported by the St. Thomas Source
She was involved in changing the federal law that let the territory receive about $24 billion in disaster-recovery money. A governor's job is to turn that money into results residents can feel.
— Stacey Plaskett, at the Democratic gubernatorial debate and her campaign launch, as reported by the St. Thomas Source and the V.I. Consortium
Arguments against
Plaskett takes too much credit for disaster-recovery money, when the first recovery funds were secured under Gov. Kenneth Mapp, "when you and he were not even speaking." Roach and Frett-Gregory also questioned her "bad relationship" with Republican leadership and President Trump.
— Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and former Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory, her Democratic primary opponents, at the July 10 debate, as reported by the St. Thomas Source
Plaskett's text exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 House hearing raised serious ethical concerns that warranted censure and removal from the Intelligence Committee. The resolution failed, 209 to 214.
— House Republicans backing the November 2025 censure resolution sponsored by Rep. Ralph Norman (South Carolina), as reported by the V.I. Consortium and Axios
What we couldn’t verify
How her hospital and WAPA timelines would be funded and staffed beyond the federal money already obligated.
Her general-election fundraising.
Her campaign did not answer the St. Thomas Source's questions about donations from companies linked to properties near the planned Vessup Bay marina.
At the Medical Society forum, committed to non-discretionary budget safeguards so the territory appropriates its full local Medicaid match and draws down all available federal dollars.
Updating Medicaid fee-for-service rates and enforcing 30-day prompt-pay rules for insurers to keep private clinics open.
Cutting procurement red tape to speed permanent rebuilding of the Juan F. Luis and Schneider hospitals.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Joined the Virgin Islands Police Department in 1984. Named St. Croix police chief in 2008, and later directed the St. Croix Police Training Academy.
Senator for St. Croix, 2019-2021. In 2019 he publicly described "widespread corruption" tied to Jeffrey Epstein in the territory.
Running mate to Kent Bernier in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary, which Gov. Bryan won.
Running mate Merwin Potter was director of the Virgin Islands Fire Service, 2004-2006.
Drew the fourth ballot position in the Elections System's casting of lots.
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 made an argument for or against this ticket. 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 beyond health care. The forum summary is the main published account of his 2026 platform.
Whether the campaign has a website, and its fundraising.
At the Medical Society forum, committed to non-discretionary budget safeguards so the territory appropriates its full local Medicaid match and draws down all available federal dollars.
Updating Medicaid fee-for-service rates and enforcing 30-day prompt-pay rules for insurers to keep private clinics open.
Cutting procurement red tape to speed permanent rebuilding of the territory's two hospitals.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, 2014-2017. Resigned in 2017. The V.I. Consortium reported growing discontent at the time over stalled road projects, the Paul E. Joseph Stadium and the Main Street revitalization project.
Continued afterward on the WAPA board at Gov. Mapp's request.
In May 2026, filed a federal lawsuit against the DEA and the Virgin Islands Police Department over a 2021 search of his property, alleging excessive force. An earlier suit over the same search is pending.
Running mate Randolph Bennett was commissioner of Property and Procurement, 2015-2017.
Drew the fifth ballot position in the Elections System's casting of lots.
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 made an argument for or against this ticket. 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 beyond health care. He sat for the St. Thomas Source's "20v1" video interview, which was not transcribed in the coverage 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 its governor and lieutenant governor as a joint ticket: one vote covers both offices. Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. is term-limited. Five tickets are on the November 3 2026 ballot, in this order as set by the Elections System's casting of lots: (1) Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg with Positive Nelson, independent; (2) Warren Mosler with Colin Robertson, independent; (3) Stacey Plaskett with Milton Potter, Democrat; (4) Oakland Benta with Merwin Potter, independent; (5) Gustav James with Randolph Bennett, independent. There is also a write-in line. No Republican ticket filed. Plaskett and Potter won the August 1 Democratic primary with 4,742 votes, ahead of Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. (3,212) and former Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory and Rodney Moorehead (2,101), per the Elections System's official results. Nine tickets filed in May. Two independent tickets, Stephen "Smokey" Frett with Derreck Bermudez and Roy Sheridan with Horris Graham, were not on the certified list. Under the Revised Organic Act (48 U.S.C. § 1591), a ticket needs a majority of the votes cast. If none gets one, the top two meet in a runoff, which the Elections System has scheduled for November 17. With five tickets on the ballot, a runoff is possible. Coverage of the four independent tickets in 2026 has been sparse; see each profile's unknowns. 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.