ST. CROIX — Senator Kurt Vialet delivered a commanding performance in Tuesday's general election, leading St. Croix's 24-candidate senatorial field with 6,494 votes as voters returned four incumbents to office, elected three newcomers and denied Senator Hubert Frederick another term in the Legislature.

Vialet, the Democratic majority leader of the 36th Legislature, finished 2,086 votes ahead of Senate Vice President Kenneth "Kenny" Gittens, who placed second with 4,408 votes, according to combined unofficial early-voting and Election Day results released by the Elections System of the Virgin Islands.

Independent Senator Franklin D. Johnson finished third with 4,166 votes, followed by Democratic Senator Clifford A. Joseph with 4,026.

The remaining three seats went to Democratic newcomers Lisa J. Charles, who received 3,714 votes; Ophelia "Nemmy" Williams-Jackson, with 3,706; and Jose "Besse" Gonzalez, who secured the seventh and final position with 3,693 votes.

The outcome means six Democrats and one independent will represent St. Croix in the 37th Legislature, which begins its two-year term in January 2027.

It also marks a significant change in the island's legislative delegation, with three non-incumbents entering office and Frederick, who currently chairs the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture, losing his reelection bid.

Frederick finished ninth with 2,990 votes, just 10 behind former Senator Nellie Rivera-O'Reilly, who placed eighth with 3,000.

Gonzalez, the seventh-place finisher, received 693 more votes than Rivera-O'Reilly, establishing a substantial cushion between the final winning position and the candidates immediately outside the top seven.

The results remain unofficial pending the Elections System's canvassing and certification process.

Vialet maintains commanding lead from primary through general election

Vialet's first-place finish continued the strong electoral performance he demonstrated during the August 1 Democratic primary, when he also led the St. Croix senatorial field.

According to the Elections System's certified primary results, Vialet received 3,698 votes, finishing 893 ahead of Gittens, who secured 2,805.

Tuesday's general election expanded that advantage considerably.

Vialet received 4,124 votes during early voting and added another 2,370 on Election Day, bringing his combined total to 6,494.

Gittens maintained second place in both reporting periods, receiving 2,867 early votes and another 1,541 on Election Day.

Vialet's total was the highest recorded by any candidate in the two district senatorial races, exceeding the leading St. Thomas-St. John candidate's total by a substantial margin.

The result reinforces his position as one of St. Croix's strongest electoral performers, following multiple terms in the Legislature and his return to office in 2025 after an unsuccessful independent gubernatorial campaign in 2022.

As majority leader of the 36th Legislature, Vialet has played a significant role in legislative negotiations involving government spending, public services, infrastructure and the territory's economic challenges.

His strong reelection performance places him in a prominent position as senators prepare to organize the incoming Legislature, although leadership positions will be determined by the members of the new body.

Four incumbents retain their seats

Alongside Vialet, Gittens, Johnson and Joseph secured reelection, preserving an experienced core within St. Croix's delegation.

Gittens, the current Senate vice president, finished second and will return to the Legislature after campaigning on his legislative record and continued oversight of government operations.

Johnson, the only independent among St. Croix's seven winners, finished third with 4,166 votes.

His performance was significant in a race where six Democratic candidates secured the remaining seats. Johnson received 2,700 votes during early voting and added 1,466 on Election Day, finishing 140 votes ahead of Joseph.

Joseph placed fourth with 4,026 votes, continuing his service in the Legislature after chairing the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety during the 36th Legislature.

The four returning lawmakers will provide continuity in the district's representation as the territory prepares for a new gubernatorial administration under Stacey Plaskett and Milton Potter.

Their reelection also means that a majority of St. Croix's incoming delegation will consist of legislators with direct experience in the current Senate's operations, committee structure and oversight responsibilities.

Three newcomers secure positions in the Legislature

The victories by Charles, Williams-Jackson and Gonzalez introduce three new members to the St. Croix legislative delegation.

Charles finished fifth with 3,714 votes, narrowly ahead of Williams-Jackson, who placed sixth with 3,706.

Only eight votes separated the two candidates, illustrating how closely several of the winning positions were contested even as Vialet maintained a dominant lead at the top of the field.

Charles, a Democratic nominee who previously sought legislative office, brings a professional background in healthcare management and community service.

During an October 28 League of Women Voters candidate forum broadcast by WTJX, she described nearly three decades of community involvement, including work with senior citizens and efforts to improve healthcare and opportunities for young people.

Charles said she holds a master's degree in healthcare management and emphasized the importance of supporting the territory's elderly population while expanding opportunities for younger generations.

Williams-Jackson, a longtime educator, government administrator and community advocate, brings extensive experience in education, youth development and public service.

According to her Democratic Party biography, the Grove Place native served as a teacher and administrator with the Virgin Islands Department of Education and previously worked as deputy commissioner of the Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation.

She also has a longstanding involvement in athletics, health advocacy and community organizations.

Her campaign emphasized education, government accountability, healthcare and economic opportunities under a platform centered on people, progress and prosperity.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, secured the seventh position with 3,693 votes.

He enters the Legislature with a background in government service, law enforcement and youth rehabilitation.

During his October 23 League of Women Voters candidate forum, Gonzalez described approximately 24 years of government employment, including service with the Bureau of Corrections and the Youth Rehabilitation Center.

He emphasized the need to improve educational opportunities, strengthen youth development programs and address the challenges facing families and residents experiencing mental health difficulties.

Gonzalez's victory was particularly notable because he had secured the seventh and final qualifying position in the Democratic primary, receiving 1,771 votes in the certified results.

He maintained that position against a much larger general-election field, ultimately defeating the closest unsuccessful candidate by 693 votes.

Frederick loses reelection bid

One of the most consequential outcomes of Tuesday's senatorial election was the defeat of incumbent Hubert L. Frederick.

Frederick had successfully advanced through the August Democratic primary, finishing sixth among the seven nominees with 2,106 votes.

However, the general election presented a substantially larger field that included independent candidates, a Republican candidate and several former senators seeking to return to office.

Frederick received 1,957 early votes, placing eighth in that reporting period, before adding 1,033 on Election Day.

His combined total of 2,990 placed him ninth, behind Rivera-O'Reilly, who moved into eighth place with 3,000 votes.

Both candidates finished outside the seven winning positions.

Former Senator Samuel Carrion, another independent candidate seeking a return to the Legislature, finished tenth with 2,838 votes.

Independent Bianca Francis placed eleventh with 2,637.

Frederick's defeat means the 37th Legislature will begin without the chairman of the current Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture.

His departure comes amid major territorial discussions over economic diversification, agricultural development, energy reliability and the possible future of St. Croix's South Shore industrial corridor.

Frederick's inability to retain his seat also distinguishes him from the other four sitting St. Croix senators who sought reelection and finished among the winners.

Two other current St. Croix lawmakers, Senators Novelle Francis Jr. and Marise James, were not candidates in the district's general election.

Francis had pursued the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor alongside Tregenza Roach but lost the August primary to Plaskett and Potter.

The combination of those departures and Frederick's defeat accounts for the three openings that will be filled by Charles, Williams-Jackson and Gonzalez.

Democratic candidates secure six of seven seats

Tuesday's election produced a strong showing for Democratic candidates in St. Croix's legislative contest.

Six of the party's seven nominees won seats, with Frederick the only Democratic candidate who advanced through the primary but failed to secure a place in the new Legislature.

The outcome closely resembled the Democratic primary's internal division between incumbent lawmakers and candidates seeking their first legislative terms.

During the August primary, four sitting senators — Vialet, Gittens, Joseph and Frederick — advanced alongside non-incumbents Williams-Jackson, Charles and Gonzalez.

Tuesday's general election preserved the three newcomers but replaced Frederick in the winning group with independent incumbent Franklin Johnson.

The result illustrates both the strength of the Democratic slate and the continued electoral appeal of Johnson, who successfully defended his seat outside the party's nomination process.

The new delegation will serve during the first half of the incoming Plaskett-Potter administration, which won the governorship in Tuesday's general election.

Although the six Democratic senators share a party affiliation with the governor-elect, the composition of the Legislature's majority and its leadership positions will depend on agreements among senators from both electoral districts and the senator-at-large.

New legislative term begins January 11

St. Croix's seven elected senators will serve in the 37th Legislature alongside seven members from the St. Thomas-St. John District and the territory-wide senator-at-large.

Under 48 U.S.C. §1572, members of the Virgin Islands Legislature serve two-year terms beginning on the second Monday in January following their election.

The incoming Legislature is therefore scheduled to begin its term on January 11, 2027.

The Elections System's election calendar schedules certification of the November 3 general election results for November 13.

As the new legislative term approaches, the seven St. Croix senators will inherit unresolved challenges involving the Water and Power Authority, the territory's healthcare infrastructure, public safety, education, housing, government finances and economic development.

The election has produced a delegation balancing returning legislative experience with three new voices, while reaffirming Vialet's considerable electoral strength.