ST. CROIX — Senator Kurt Vialet picked up papers Monday as a Democrat to run for reelection to the Senate on St. Croix, setting aside a potential gubernatorial bid and announcing last Friday that he would seek support to continue serving in the Legislature rather than pursue the territory’s top office.
Vialet, who served four terms in the Legislature from 2014 to 2022 before unsuccessfully running for governor in 2022, returned to the Senate and was the top vote-getter in the 2024 senatorial race.
“I love this Territory,” Vialet said in a statement. “This is my home. After deep reflection, I have decided not to run for Governor, but instead to continue serving in the Legislature. This body, as a coequal branch of government, plays a critical role in providing oversight and ensuring accountability, and it requires strong, steady leadership.”
In the St. Thomas/St. John District, Democrat Sennai Habtes picked up a senatorial petition last Friday. Independent Imani Daniel picked up nomination papers on Monday to run for Senate. Daniel was elected as a delegate to the Sixth Constitutional Convention with 80 write-in votes, serves as the convention’s secretary, and is the board president of Family Resource Center. Independent Vernon Araujo also picked up a senatorial petition on Monday. Araujo is the executive director of the King of the Wing Foundation and has a long résumé of community service to include president of the Virgin Islands Fencing Federation and a member of the board of directors for the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts, Junior Achievement of the Virgin Islands, Family Resource Center, and the VI Good Food Coalition.
Democrat Preston Evans picked up Board of Elections papers last Thursday in the district, as did Republican Harriet Mercer, who is serving her second consecutive term on the board after being elected in 2018.
Candidates who previously picked up petitions previously changed parties, requiring them to pick up new petitions.
In the St. Thomas/St. John District, former Senator Stephen “Smokey” Frett, who picked up gubernatorial papers under the Independent Citizens Movement banner on April 24, picked up papers again last Friday as an independent. Sheldon Turnbull, who picked up gubernatorial papers as a Democrat on May 5, picked up papers Monday as an independent. Turnbull is managing partner of Da Vybe Radio 107.9 FM.
Also on St. Croix, Jaylen Gabriel, who previously picked up a petition to run for delegate to Congress as a Democrat, picked up papers last Thursday as an independent for the Senate race.
Picking up nomination papers does not obligate a candidate to formally file. Candidates may file between May 12 and 19.
