The 2018 U.S. Virgin Islands gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to select the governor of the United States Virgin Islands. The election was held concurrently with the 2018 United States midterm elections. On election day, November 6, Bryan earned 38.08% of the vote, with Mapp coming in second with 33.45%. Since no candidate received a majority of the general election vote, as required by the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, a runoff was held 14 days later between Albert Bryan Jr. and Incumbent Governor Kenneth Mapp, the top two vote-getters. On November 20, 2018, Democrat Albert Bryan Jr. won the runoff with 54.5% of the vote. The election marked the first time in 20 years since a sitting governor lost reelection in Virgin Islands history, referring to Schneider vs. Turnbull race in 1998.
The incumbent Governor Kenneth Mapp ran for reelection to a second term as an Independent politician with incumbent Lt. Gov. Osbert Potter. Mapp faced off against former Virgin Islands Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr., who won the August 4 Democratic primary; Bryan earned 39.23% of the vote in the primary, defeating Allison "Allie" Petrus (33.67%) and Angel E. Dawson Jr. (26.68%). Also on the November ballot were Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Warren Mosler, Soraya Diase Coffelt, Moleto A. Smith, and Janette Millin Young.
A similar scenario to the 1998 gubernatorial race, where both districts were divided over one candidate for the other. St. Croix largely went for Turnbull while Schneider, the incumbent governor held his lead in St. Thomas/St. John, although a close race in that district. This time around, St. Thomas/St. John largely went for Bryan and Mapp, the incumbent governor dominated St. Croix.
The 2018 Democratic primary was held on August 4, 2018. The three Democratic hopefuls who ran in the primary were former Finance Commissioner Angel Dawson Jr., former Labor Commissioner Albert Bryan Jr., and former three-term Senator Allison Petrus. Early voting occurred from July 14 to July 25, 2018. According to Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes, turnout was low with some board members expressing disappointment in the numbers. Out of 32,330 registered voters, only 30.61% participated in the primary.
Following a defeat in the primary, both Petrus and Dawson pledged support for the Bryan-Roach campaign going into the general election. At a press conference, the teams came up with âÂÂBecause we believe in a âÂÂBetter Tomorrowâ (Angel Dawson's slogan), we are now officially âÂÂAll Inâ (Allison Petrus's slogan), to âÂÂChange Course Now,âÂÂâÂÂ
St. Croix - David Canegata Recreation Center, Juanita Gardine Elementary School, Ricardo Richards Elementary School, Claude Markoe Elementary School, St. Croix Educational Complex; St. Thomas - Lockhart Elementary School, Charles W. Turnbull Regional Library, UVI Sports and Fitness Center; St. John - Julius Sprauve School