United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election, 2010
Encyclopedia
The United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010, and won by incumbent Democratic
Governor John de Jongh
. De Jongh was elected to his first term in 2006 with 57.3% of the vote over Kenneth Mapp
.
Governor John de Jongh was elected to a second, full year-term, over independent Kenneth Mapp, in what was essentially a rematch of the 2006 gubernatorial runoff election.
In the four-way Democratic primary, incumbent Governor John de Jongh
and Lieutenant Governor Gregory Francis
won the nomination with 7,487 votes (53%). Senator Adlah Donastorg Jr., who ran against de Jongh in 2006, placed second with 4,300 votes. Former Lieutenant Governor Gerard Luz James
came in third place in the primary with 1,823 votes, while James O'Bryan Jr.
placed fourth with 423 votes.
Governor John de Jongh garnered more votes than all three of his Democratic challengers combined, who together earned 6,555 votes. In response to his 53% victory, de Jongh stated, "The combination of their votes by no means comes close to what we achieved this evening ... That feels very good."
Second place candidate Senator Adlah Donastorg will now leave the Virgin Islands Legislature when his current term expires in January 2011, after seven terms in office. He told the Virgin Islands Daily News that he will return to the private sector after the election.
Former Lieutenant Governor Gerard Luz James, told the media he "accepted the people's decision," but also added in response to the election, "The people of the Virgin Islands showed me today that they really and truly endure mistreatment, endure corruption, endure mismanagement, and they also endure maltreatment to each other ... The only thing that I can see is continued destruction, and it's sad, sad, sad." James stated that he would not endorse Governor de Jongh for a second term stating, "Why should I endorse anyone when it shows me truly that the people don't want to have anything that is right?"
James O'Bryan, who with running mate Pamela Richards Samuel received 432 votes, said, "The people have spoken, I respect their wishes, and I will go forward with this episode from now on."
With the completion of the Democratic primary, Governor John de Jongh went on to face independent candidate Kenneth Mapp
in the general election
on November 2, 2010.
The incumbent gubernatorial team of Gov. John de Jongh and Lt. Governor Gregory Francis
won re-election to a second term in office, garnering 17,535 votes. The independent ticket of Kenneth Mapp
and Malik Sekou
placed second in the election, earning 13,580 votes. Mapp initially refused to concede despite trailing by a wide margin, citing voting irregularities.
Ralph T. O'Neal
, the Premier of the neighboring British Virgin Islands
, called Governor de Jongh on November 4, 2010, to congratulate on his re-election.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Governor John de Jongh
John de Jongh
John Percy de Jongh, Jr. is the current Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.-Life and career:de Jongh was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child he attended Sts. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas. After his parents' divorce, he lived with his mother in Detroit, Michigan while his mother did...
. De Jongh was elected to his first term in 2006 with 57.3% of the vote over Kenneth Mapp
Kenneth Mapp
Kenneth E. Mapp is a United States Virgin Islanders politician. A former Virgin Islands Senator, Mapp served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1995 until 1999. Most recently, Mapp was an independent candidate for Governor of the U.S...
.
Governor John de Jongh was elected to a second, full year-term, over independent Kenneth Mapp, in what was essentially a rematch of the 2006 gubernatorial runoff election.
Democratic
- Governor: John de JonghJohn de JonghJohn Percy de Jongh, Jr. is the current Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.-Life and career:de Jongh was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child he attended Sts. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas. After his parents' divorce, he lived with his mother in Detroit, Michigan while his mother did...
incumbent Governor (first elected in 2006)- Lieutenant Governor: Gregory FrancisGregory FrancisGregory R. Francis is a politician in the United States Virgin Islands. A Democrat, he has served as Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands since January 1, 2007, having been elected on a ticket with Governor John de Jongh.-Early life:Gregory Francis was born in Saint Croix on...
, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. Virgin IslandsLieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin IslandsThe following is a list of Lieutenant Governors of the United States Virgin Islands.*David Earle Maas - Republican...
- Lieutenant Governor: Gregory Francis
Defeated in primary
- Adlah Donastorg Jr.Adlah Donastorg Jr.Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg Jr. is a U.S. Virgin Islander politician, who has served as a Senator in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands since January 1995...
, seven-term U.S. Virgin Islands SenatorLegislature of the Virgin IslandsThe Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the territorial legislature of the United States Virgin Islands. The legislative branch of the unincorporated U.S. territory is unicameral, with a single house consisting of 15 senators, elected to two-year terms without term limits. The territorial...
(since January 1995); 2006 candidate for governor. Donastorg announced his candidacy on July 25, 2010.- Samuel BaptisteSamuel BaptisteSamuel Baptiste is a United States Virgin Islands politician and businessman. He was most recently a Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands in 2010 as the running mate of Senator Adlah Donastorg. He is married to Darlene Carty-Baptiste.-Early life:Samuel...
, Donastorg's running mate Baptiste worked as an assistant commissioner of Property and Procurement under former Governor Roy Schneider. He was also a 2002 candidate for governor as a Republican.
- Samuel Baptiste
- Gerard Luz James II, former Lieutenant Governor and president of the fifth Constitutional Convention
- Glen J. SmithGlen J. SmithGlen J. Smith is a United States Virgin Islander educator and teacher. Smith was chosen by gubernatorial candidate Gerard Luz James as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands in the 2010 gubernatorial election. James and Semith ran as Democrats, but lost the...
, James' running mate, teacherTeacherA teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and educator
- Glen J. Smith
- James O'Bryan Jr.James O'Bryan Jr.James "Jimmy" O'Bryan Jr. is a United States Virgin Islander politician, spokesman and former press secretary. He previously served as the Administrator of the island of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands....
, two-term chairman of the Democratic Party of the Virgin IslandsDemocratic Party of the Virgin IslandsThe Democratic Party is a political party in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It won the gubernatorial elections of 2006 when its candidate John de Jongh was elected with 57.3 %.At the last elections, 7 November 2006, the party won 8 out of 15 seats....
, former Senator, and Administrator of Saint Thomas and Water IslandWater IslandWater Island may refer to:*Water Island, New York*Water Island, U.S. Virgin Islands...
- Pamela Richards SamuelPamela Richards SamuelPamela C. Richards Samuel is a U.S. Virgin Islander politician. Most recently, Richards Samuel was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands in the 2010 election as the running mate of Democratic gubernatorial candidate James O'Bryan Jr. She has previously served as...
, O'Bryan's running mate, former Commissioner of TourismTourismTourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
- Pamela Richards Samuel
Independent
- Kenneth MappKenneth MappKenneth E. Mapp is a United States Virgin Islanders politician. A former Virgin Islands Senator, Mapp served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1995 until 1999. Most recently, Mapp was an independent candidate for Governor of the U.S...
, former Lieutenant Governor; gubernatorial candidate in 2006- Dr. Malik SekouMalik SekouMalik Sekou, Ph.D., is a United States Virgin Islander academic, author and political scientist. He is a professor and chairman of the Department of history, social science and political science at the University of the Virgin Islands...
, Mapp's running mate. Sekeu is a political science professor and department chair at the University of the Virgin IslandsUniversity of the Virgin IslandsThe University of the Virgin Islands is a public university located in the United States Virgin Islands.-Academics:The university has five academic divisions: Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Nursing, and Science and Mathematics. UVI offers several graduate degree programs and...
. He has written on history, social science and political science. He had previously been elected to the Virgin Islands Board of Education.
- Dr. Malik Sekou
Withdrew
- Terrence "Positive" Nelson, U.S. Virgin Islands SenatorLegislature of the Virgin IslandsThe Legislature of the Virgin Islands is the territorial legislature of the United States Virgin Islands. The legislative branch of the unincorporated U.S. territory is unicameral, with a single house consisting of 15 senators, elected to two-year terms without term limits. The territorial...
, member of the Independent Citizens MovementIndependent Citizens MovementThe Independent Citizens Movement is a conservative political party in the U.S. Virgin Islands that was founded by Virdin C. Brown and Steve O'Reilly in 1968. Its symbol is the torch.- Early history:...
(ICM) party
Primary election
The gubernatorial primary was held on Saturday, September 11, 2010. The only contested primary was for the Democratic nomination.In the four-way Democratic primary, incumbent Governor John de Jongh
John de Jongh
John Percy de Jongh, Jr. is the current Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.-Life and career:de Jongh was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child he attended Sts. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas. After his parents' divorce, he lived with his mother in Detroit, Michigan while his mother did...
and Lieutenant Governor Gregory Francis
Gregory Francis
Gregory R. Francis is a politician in the United States Virgin Islands. A Democrat, he has served as Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands since January 1, 2007, having been elected on a ticket with Governor John de Jongh.-Early life:Gregory Francis was born in Saint Croix on...
won the nomination with 7,487 votes (53%). Senator Adlah Donastorg Jr., who ran against de Jongh in 2006, placed second with 4,300 votes. Former Lieutenant Governor Gerard Luz James
Gerard Luz James
Gerard Luz James II is a United States Virgin Islander politician, funeral director, and businessman. James served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1999 until 2003 and is the current president of the Virgin Islands' fifth Constitutional Convention.-Early...
came in third place in the primary with 1,823 votes, while James O'Bryan Jr.
James O'Bryan Jr.
James "Jimmy" O'Bryan Jr. is a United States Virgin Islander politician, spokesman and former press secretary. He previously served as the Administrator of the island of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands....
placed fourth with 423 votes.
Governor John de Jongh garnered more votes than all three of his Democratic challengers combined, who together earned 6,555 votes. In response to his 53% victory, de Jongh stated, "The combination of their votes by no means comes close to what we achieved this evening ... That feels very good."
Second place candidate Senator Adlah Donastorg will now leave the Virgin Islands Legislature when his current term expires in January 2011, after seven terms in office. He told the Virgin Islands Daily News that he will return to the private sector after the election.
Former Lieutenant Governor Gerard Luz James, told the media he "accepted the people's decision," but also added in response to the election, "The people of the Virgin Islands showed me today that they really and truly endure mistreatment, endure corruption, endure mismanagement, and they also endure maltreatment to each other ... The only thing that I can see is continued destruction, and it's sad, sad, sad." James stated that he would not endorse Governor de Jongh for a second term stating, "Why should I endorse anyone when it shows me truly that the people don't want to have anything that is right?"
James O'Bryan, who with running mate Pamela Richards Samuel received 432 votes, said, "The people have spoken, I respect their wishes, and I will go forward with this episode from now on."
With the completion of the Democratic primary, Governor John de Jongh went on to face independent candidate Kenneth Mapp
Kenneth Mapp
Kenneth E. Mapp is a United States Virgin Islanders politician. A former Virgin Islands Senator, Mapp served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1995 until 1999. Most recently, Mapp was an independent candidate for Governor of the U.S...
in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
on November 2, 2010.
Primary election results
General election
The gubernatorial general election was held on November 2, 2010, with incumbent Governor John de Jongh being challenged by independent Kenneth Mapp, a former Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, for a second consecutive executive election. De Jongh had narrowly defeated Mapp in the 2006 gubernatorial runoff election.The incumbent gubernatorial team of Gov. John de Jongh and Lt. Governor Gregory Francis
Gregory Francis
Gregory R. Francis is a politician in the United States Virgin Islands. A Democrat, he has served as Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands since January 1, 2007, having been elected on a ticket with Governor John de Jongh.-Early life:Gregory Francis was born in Saint Croix on...
won re-election to a second term in office, garnering 17,535 votes. The independent ticket of Kenneth Mapp
Kenneth Mapp
Kenneth E. Mapp is a United States Virgin Islanders politician. A former Virgin Islands Senator, Mapp served as the Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 1995 until 1999. Most recently, Mapp was an independent candidate for Governor of the U.S...
and Malik Sekou
Malik Sekou
Malik Sekou, Ph.D., is a United States Virgin Islander academic, author and political scientist. He is a professor and chairman of the Department of history, social science and political science at the University of the Virgin Islands...
placed second in the election, earning 13,580 votes. Mapp initially refused to concede despite trailing by a wide margin, citing voting irregularities.
Ralph T. O'Neal
Ralph T. O'Neal
Ralph Telford O'Neal, OBE is the former Premier of the British Virgin Islands, and is expected to be appointed as the leader of the opposition...
, the Premier of the neighboring British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
, called Governor de Jongh on November 4, 2010, to congratulate on his re-election.