Dr. Hadiya Sewer, running as an independent and co-founder of the political movement TheFuture, won the US Virgin Islands senator-at-large seat on Tuesday, defeating incumbent Democrat Angel L. Bolques Jr. by more than 3,600 votes.
Sewer collected 9,809 votes, or 61.06 percent of the 16,065 ballots cast, according to unofficial results from the Elections System of the Virgin Islands. Bolques secured 6,204 votes, representing 38.62 percent, with 52 write-in votes recorded.
The margin of victory proved substantial across both voting periods. During early voting, Sewer amassed 5,985 votes to Bolques's 3,957, a lead of more than 2,000. She widened that advantage on Election Day itself, receiving 3,824 votes compared with Bolques's 2,247.
Sewer's win marks a significant breakthrough for TheFuture, a coalition that brought together independent and Democratic candidates around a shared reform agenda in the 2026 election. Multiple candidates aligned with the movement placed among top finishers in their races, including independent Imani Daniel in the St. Thomas-St. John senatorial contest and Raven Phillips in the St. John Board of Elections race.
The senator-at-large position represents the only legislative seat elected across all three main islands, though the law requires the holder to be a St. John resident. Sewer, who lives on St. John, will serve in the 37th Legislature.
Bolques, a Democrat, had represented the territory for more than four years. He was sworn in on July 25, 2022, and served in the 34th, 35th and 36th Legislatures. Before his legislative service, he sat on the Virgin Islands Board of Education.
Sewer campaigned on four main themes: government accountability, affordable housing, energy reform and economic opportunity. During an October 15 debate with Bolques, she pushed for systemic changes and argued that government services must better serve working families. She outlined a proposal to help residents preserve and repair inherited property and advocated for adjusting housing assistance eligibility rules to account for St. John's exceptionally high property values.
The two candidates diverged sharply on the proposed St. Croix refinery restart. Sewer opposed the project, citing public health and environmental risks. Bolques supported reopening the facility if appropriate safety and environmental safeguards were in place, contending that the territory would gain jobs and economic activity.
They also clashed over mechanisms for government oversight and the Legislature's responsibility in handling complaints against public officials. Sewer raised questions about Bolques's St. John residency during the debate, arguing that true representation requires a public official to maintain physical presence and active involvement in the community.
Sewer brings experience in higher education, grassroots organizing and cultural work to her new role. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Spelman College and earned graduate degrees in Africana Studies from Brown University. She has worked with Stanford University's African and African American Studies program and Brown University's Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice, researching colonialism, political identity and environmental justice.
She serves as president and co-founder of St.JanCo, the St. John Heritage Collective, an organization focused on preserving cultural heritage and safeguarding the interests of families with deep ancestral roots on St. John. Her advocacy has centered on land ownership, cultural preservation and development affecting the island, including deliberations over Caneel Bay's future.
TheFuture's platform calls for increased oversight of the Water and Power Authority, growth in renewable energy capacity, affordable housing development, protections for locally held land, healthcare and education improvements and backing for businesses owned by Virgin Islanders.
The results remain unofficial pending the Elections System's canvassing and certification.
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