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The Virgin Islands' Voice in Congress

An Analytical Exploration of Representation and Electoral History for the U.S. Virgin Islands' At-Large Congressional District.

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The At-Large District

Territorial Representation

The United States Virgin Islands is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by a non-voting delegate elected from an at-large congressional district. This means the entire territory constitutes a single electoral district, encompassing all its islands and residents.

Delegate's Role

As a non-voting delegate, the representative from the U.S. Virgin Islands can participate in debates and committee work but cannot vote on the final passage of legislation on the House floor. This unique status reflects the territory's unincorporated, unorganized status within the United States.

Historical Context

The district was established to provide a voice for the U.S. Virgin Islands in the federal legislature, allowing the territory to engage with national policy-making processes. The first delegate election was held in 1972.

Delegates Through Time

Ron de Lugo

Party: Democratic
Term: January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979

Party: Democratic
Term: January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1995

A significant figure, de Lugo served two non-consecutive terms, representing the district for a total of 16 years.

Melvin H. Evans

Party: Republican
Term: January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981

Evans served a single term, marking a period of Republican representation for the district.

Victor O. Frazer

Party: Independent
Term: January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997

Frazer represented the territory as an Independent, serving one term.

Donna Christian-Christensen

Party: Democratic
Term: January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2015

Christian-Christensen holds the record for the longest tenure, serving nine consecutive terms (18 years), representing a significant era of Democratic leadership.

Stacey Plaskett

Party: Democratic
Term: January 3, 2015 – Present

The current delegate, Plaskett has served multiple terms, continuing the territory's representation in Congress.

Territorial Profile

Population

As of the 2020 Census, the U.S. Virgin Islands had a population of 87,146 residents.

Economic Indicator

The median household income was reported as $21,740, reflecting the economic context of the territory.

Ethnic Composition

The demographic makeup is diverse, with approximately:

  • 76.2% Black
  • 13.1% White
  • 7.8% Hispanic
  • 1.1% Asian
  • 0.4% Native American
  • 0.2% Other

Electoral Landscape

Below are the results from various U.S. House elections for the U.S. Virgin Islands' at-large congressional district.

1972 General Election

US House election, 1972: U.S. Virgin Islands at-large district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ron de Lugo 10,570 72.6%
Republican Victor Schneider 3,987 27.4%
Majority 6,583 45.2%
Turnout 14,557 100.0%

1974 General Election

US House election, 1974: U.S. Virgin Islands at-large district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ron de Lugo (incumbent) 14,467 100.0%
Majority 14,467 100.0%
Turnout 14,467 100.0%

1978 US House Election

US House election, 1978: U.S. Virgin Islands at-large district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Melvin H. Evans 10,539 52.1%
Democratic Janet B. Watlington 9,574 47.4%
Write-in 98 0.5%
Majority 965 4.7%
Turnout 20,211 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

1980 US House Election

US House election, 1980: U.S. Virgin Islands at-large district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Ron de Lugo 10,027 53.0%
Republican Melvin H. Evans (Incumbent) 8,876 47.0%
Majority 1,151 6.0%
Turnout 18,903 100.0%
Democratic gain from Republican

1994 US House Election

US House election, 1994: U.S. Virgin Islands at-large district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Eileen R. Petersen 10,819 34.1%
Independent Victor O. Frazer 10,321 32.5%
Republican Edgar De'Lisle Ross 5,513 17.6%
Independent Michael A. Paiewonsky 5,069 16.0%
Write-in 36 0.1%
Majority 498 1.6%
Turnout 31,758 100.0%
Runoff election
Independent Victor O. Frazer 16,561 54.5%
Democratic Eileen R. Petersen 13,817 45.5%
Majority 2,744 9.0%
Total votes 30,378 100.00%
Independent gain from Democratic

2020 US House Election

US House election, 2020: U.S. Virgin Islands at-large district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stacey Plaskett (incumbent) 13,620 87.94
Independent Shekema George 1,782 11.51
Write-in 85 0.55
Total votes 15,487 100 N/A

2022 US House Election

US House election, 2022: U.S. Virgin Islands at-large district
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stacey Plaskett (incumbent) 16,354 98.74%
Write-in 209 1.26%
Total votes 16,563 100 N/A

References

Source Citations

The following references were used in the compilation of this information:

  1. 48 U.S.C. § 1711
  2. History.house.gov: "Election Statistics, 1920 to Present | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives"
  3. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "1996 General Election"
  4. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "1996 Run Off Election"
  5. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2000 General Election"
  6. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2012 General Election"
  7. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2014 General Election"
  8. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2016 General Election"
  9. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2018 General Election"
  10. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2020 General Election"
  11. Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2022 General Election"

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the United States Virgin Islands' at-large congressional district Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not reflect the most current status or nuances of political representation.

This is not political or legal advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional consultation regarding U.S. territorial affairs, congressional procedures, or election law. Always refer to official government sources and consult with qualified experts for accurate and up-to-date information.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.