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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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:
- 48 U.S.C. § 1711
- History.house.gov: "Election Statistics, 1920 to Present | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "1996 General Election"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "1996 Run Off Election"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2000 General Election"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2012 General Election"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2014 General Election"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2016 General Election"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2018 General Election"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2020 General Election"
- Election System of the Virgin Islands: "2022 General Election"
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References
References
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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.