Senator Steven Payne Sr. on Wed. July 20, 2022 was expelled from the 34th Legislature of the Virgin Islands. By. THE V.I. LEGISLATURE
The V.I. Democratic Party must now act swiftly to replace ex-Senator Steven Payne Sr. following the 34th Legislature's successful vote on Wednesday night to expel him.
According to Virgin Islands Code Title 2, Chapter 8, Mr. Payne will be replaced by the Democratic Party since he is a Democrat, and since his removal took place less than one year before the next election cycle. The 2022 General Election is set for Nov. 8.
Mr. Payne is likely to lose against candidate Angel Bolques Jr. during the Democratic Primary Election coming up on August 6, according to recent polling. However, even if he were to lose the primary on August 6, if Mr. Payne was not expelled from the Senate, he would have still served until the results of the general election.
The law, seen here, reads, "If prior to the one year immediately preceding the date of the next general election, a vacancy occurs in the office of a member of the Legislature, the Governor shall call a special election in said district, or at-large, as the case may be, within thirty days following the day on which the vacancy occurs. Said special election shall be held no later than sixty days after the call, and the person elected shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term of his predecessor.
"When the vacancy occurs within one year prior to the general election, the President of the Legislature, upon the written recommendation of the territorial committee of the political party of which the previous office holder was a candidate, shall appoint the person so recommended; provided, however, that if the previous office holder was not a candidate of a political party as defined by law, the Legislature by a two-thirds majority of its members shall elect a person from said district, or at large, as the case may be, to fill the vacancy."
