Stacey Plaskett elected first woman governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands

The longtime congressional delegate makes history as the first Black woman ever elected from a territory, as more Black women win big.
History has been made in the U.S. Virgin Islands. After 56 years, the territory has elected Stacey Plaskett as its first-ever woman governor.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the longtime congressional delegate and her running mate, Milton Potter, won the territory’s gubernatorial election after receiving 62.8% of the vote, per local reports.
“I extend my congratulations to Governor-elect Stacey Plaskett, Lieutenant Governor-elect Milton Potter and all those elected to serve the people of the Virgin Islands,” Governor Albert Bryan, who has served the territory since 2019, and whom she will succeed, said in a release.
“Public service is a profound responsibility, and earning the confidence of the people is an honor that carries an obligation to lead with integrity, listen with respect and work toward the common good,” he continued, adding, “To every Virgin Islander who voted, thank you for making your voice heard and helping shape the future of our Territory.”
The historic win also makes Plaskett, 60, a U.S. Virgin Islands congressional delegate since 2015, the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. territory. Her victory only adds to a historic night for Black women candidates, with not one but two becoming governors, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who won Georgia’s gubernatorial race.
Before she launched her bid for governor, Plaskett became a nationally recognized political figure during her tenure in Washington, D.C., after she made history in 2021 as the first delegate from a U.S. territory to serve as a House impeachment manager during President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. Over the course of her time as a delegate, she also advocated for federal funding for healthcare, disaster recovery, and economic development, as well as greater representation for U.S. territories.
Her campaign for governor focused on the rising cost of living in the USVI, healthcare, public safety, and strengthening the territory’s infrastructure, including its water and power systems.
“I’ve spent my career fighting for the nearly four million Americans living in our territories, and I’m ready to bring that same fight home,” she said in a statement in July. “In Congress, I fought to deliver for the Virgin Islands after Irma and Maria, to expand health care access, and to make sure our voice was heard in rooms where territories are too often overlooked. Now I’m ready to bring that same experience and determination to the Governor’s office.”
She and Potter are expected to take office on Jan. 4, 2027.
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