ST. CROIX — In a marked departure from party politics, staunch Democrat and former Senator James O’Bryan picked up papers Friday in the St. Thomas/St. John District as an independent to enter the gubernatorial race.
O’Bryan previously served in the 16th Legislature. In 2003, then-Governor Charles Turnbull named him St. Thomas/Water Island administrator while O’Bryan was serving his second term as chair of the Virgin Islands Democratic Party. He had previously served as Turnbull’s principal spokesperson and as press secretary to former Governor Alexander Farrelly. O’Bryan ran for governor in 2010 alongside running mate Pamela Richards Samuel, a former commissioner of the Department of Tourism — challenging then-Governor John de Jongh’s reelection bid in the primary.
On St. Croix, former five-term Senator Nereida Rivera-O’Reilly picked up papers Monday as an independent to enter the Senate race. Rivera-O’Reilly, who began her tenure, in the 28th Legislature after being first elected as an independent in 2008, switched her party back to Democrat in 2016, becoming the vice president of the body in the 32nd Legislature. She mounted a comeback during the last election cycle but did not advance past the Democratic primary. Rivera-O’Reilly then launched an unsuccessful write-in campaign in the general election. Amanda Sackey, an independent, picked up papers on Friday to run for Senate. Republican Raymond James, who unsuccessfully ran as a delegate to the Sixth Constitutional Convention in 2024, finishing 11th, and independent Gage Edwards also picked up senatorial petitions Monday.
Tuesday is the final day candidates may file nomination papers.
