A public opinion poll conducted in the U.S. Virgin Islands between February and March shows Senator Kurt Vialet with a narrow lead in a hypothetical gubernatorial matchup, according to results released by Rattan Polling Service.
Vialet drew support from 19.6 percent of respondents, followed closely by Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett at 18.8 percent. A significant 18.0 percent of voters selected "Other Candidate/Not Listed," suggesting openness to candidates not yet formally in the race.
Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach polled at 9.4 percent, while former Senator Donna Frett Gregory received 8.0 percent. The remaining candidates, including businessman Warren Mosler, former commissioners Gustav James and Randolph Bennett, and several others, each drew between 1.2 and 2.8 percent of support. Just 3.0 percent of respondents were undecided or gave no response.
The poll surveyed 500 residents across St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John through paper ballots and telephone interviews, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent. The sample was weighted to reflect island population distribution, though the actual respondent breakdown was 60 percent St. Croix, 38 percent St. Thomas and 2 percent St. John.
When asked about the territory's most pressing issues, voters ranked economy and jobs first at 17.8 percent, followed by healthcare and hospital care at 16.4 percent. Cost of living (13.2 percent) and corruption (11.0 percent) rounded out the top four concerns. Roads and infrastructure and crime and public safety tied at 9.8 percent each.
Vialet told the Consortium he has not yet decided whether to enter the 2026 race. He previously ran for governor in 2022 and lost to incumbent Governor Albert Bryan Jr. All other candidates named in the poll have signaled intentions to seek the office.
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