ST. CROIX — A massive 99 filings for public office were submitted by 6 p.m. Tuesday as the 2026 elections field takes form.
Eleven candidates filed for the office of governor/lieutenant governor. Making a surprise entry in the race is Roy Sheridan and Horris Graham (I). Sheridan picked up a petition on Tuesday morning, the day of the filing deadline.
Individuals speculating who “Horris” Graham is pointed to Horace Graham, assistant commissioner of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, who resides on St. Croix. WTJX reached out to Graham, who stated that Sheridan spoke with him on Tuesday morning, asking him to run as his lieutenant governor and he flatly refused. Expressing shock, he said he intends to write the supervisor of elections clarifying that he is not a candidate. A WTJX reporter who was in the Elections System office at the time of Sheridan’s filing asked who he was running with and he demurred, stating that he wasn’t sure that his running mate would drop off his papers. He added that he had been trying to get with his potential running mate all day and did not hear back.
Other gubernatorial candidate teams from the St. Thomas/St. John District include Tregenza Roach and Novelle Francis Jr. (D), Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg and Positive Nelson (I), Stephen “Smokey” Frett and Derreck Bermudez (I), and Dorna Frett-Gregory and Rodney Moorhead (D). Dorna is actually Donna Frett-Gregory who recently legally changed her name to reflect her parents original intent — Donna — but is awaiting receipt of her new birth certificate so she can change her name at the Elections System. Filing for the top office from the St. Croix District is Stacey Plaskett and Milton Potter (D), Gustav James and Randolph Bennett (I), Oakland Benta and Merwin Potter (I), and Warren Mosler and Colin Robertson (I).
The race for delegate to Congress saw a bit of a twist on Tuesday. On St. Croix, Jed JohnHope (I), who picked up nomination papers on April 24 for the gubernatorial race, picked up papers for delegate to Congress on Tuesday, submitting them at 5:37 that evening. When asked why the change of heart, JohnHope declined comment in the moment, citing the need to apprise his “people” first. James Weber III (I), a former one-term senator and former deputy supervisor of elections, filed his delegate to Congress petition on St. Thomas instead of the island where he resides — St. Croix. According to the VI Code, nomination petitions must be filed with the supervisor of elections in the election district in which the candidate resides. Weber will likely get a notice to cure, giving him an opportunity to remedy any issues that may arise with his filing. Also running for the Washington office from St. Croix are Antonio Emanuel (D), Emmett Hansen (D), Shelley Moorhead (I), and Teri Helenese (D). From the St. Thomas/St. John District, the candidates who filed for a seat in the House of Representatives are Brett McClafferty (I), Delia Smith (D), Ida Smith (I), and Janelle K. Sarauw (D).
There will be a head-to-head battle for the senator at-large seat as newcomer Hadiya Sewer (I) challenges the incumbent Angel Bolques Jr. (D).
In the district race for the Legislature on St. Croix, five senators are seeking reelection: Clifford Joseph (D), Franklin Johnson (I), Hubert Frederick (D), Kenneth “Kenny” Gittens (D), and Kurt Vialet (D). Also filing to represent the people of St. Croix are: Alvin Milligan (I), Bianca Francis (I), Diane Prosper (I), Dwight Mike Cartier (D), Elizabeth Hansen Watley (I), Gage Edmunds (I), Jay Watson (I), Jaylen Gabrial (I), Jose “Besse” Gonzalez (D), Julian Veira (I), Lisa Charles (D), Luz Browne (I), Lynda “Nikki” Brooks (D), Mutasem Mustafa (I), Nereida Rivera O’Reilly (I), Norman Bapo Jn Baptiste (I), Omar B.U. Henry (D), Ophelia Williams-Jackson (D), Raymond James (R), Samuel Carrión (I), Troy Williams (I), Troy Mason (I), and Tyler Courtland Fay (I).
Seeking to return to the Legislature in the St. Thomas/St. John District is current Senators Alma Francis Heyliger (I), Avery Lewis (D), Carla Joseph (D), Dwayne DeGraff (I), Marvin Blyden (D), and Ray “PuPa” Fonseca (D). Also running for a seat in the district are: Collister Fahie (R), David Sierra (ICM), Derrick Callwood (R), Dr. Krishna C. Kilaru (I), Eric Tillet (R), Eugene Farrell (I), Gregory Smith (I), Imani Daniel (I), Joel Browne Conners (D), Kashief Hamilton (D), Lawrence Larry Boschulte (D), Lorelei Marsh Monsanto (D), Mayard Leader (D), Michael A. Smith (D), Monique Faulkner (D), Paula Duke (I), Peter Bailey (D), Rudel Hodge Jr. (D), Sennai Habtes (I), Shenelle Fina Francis (D), and Vernon Araujo (I).
Staying in the St. Thomas/St. John District, the following Board of Elections members are seeking reelection: Atanya Springette (D) and Harriet Mercer (R). Additionally, Barbara Petersen (D), Joycelyn Jacobs (D), Kevin Rodriguez (D), Preston Evans (D), and Raven Phillips (I) are running for the board.
On St. Croix, Franz A. Christian (R) is seeking to return to his seat on the board as well as Kareem Francis (I). Juliet Liburd (I), Mary “Peggy” Moorhead (I), and Shamari Haynes (D) have filed to serve on the board.
In the last race, the Board of Education, Terrence Joseph (D) and Winona Hendricks (D) are seeking reelection on St. Croix. New to the race are Christopher Jacobs Jr. (D), Lucy M. Jackson (I), Mojania “Mo” Denis (D), and Vincent H.A. Gordon Jr. (I).
In the St. Thomas/St. John District Arah Lockhart (D) and Judy Gomez (D) are seeking reelection. Bruce Flamon (I), D’Vonte Xavier (D), and Michelle Cawthron (D) have filed to serve on this board.
There were some notable people that did not file. Former Attorney General Denise George Counts, now a federal prosecutor, picked up nomination papers Tuesday morning as a Democrat for governor, however, she did not file. Raymond Williams, six-time Board of Elections member, picked up a petition but did not file. Recent law bars heads of government agencies from assuming a role on the Board of Elections. And while Williams said he thinks this law is unconstitutional, he decided not to challenge it but rather be proud of his 24 years of service. Sheldon Turnbull, who did not meet the filing deadline, released a statement to WTJX this morning stating that although he garnered the requisite number of signatures, a family issue arose that was more important to him and his running mate, Kim Hughes, than their gubernatorial pursuit. He further stated, “We are more disappointed that we let down all who became reenergized to participating in the process.” He urged his supporters to become active voters and that the Turnbull/Hughes ticket is deferred not defeated.
This is an unofficial list. The Elections System staff will be vetting the filings in the coming weeks before sending out the official listing of candidates.
