On November 3, 2026, Stacey Plaskett won the U.S. Virgin Islands gubernatorial election with roughly 62.8% of the vote (about 11,865 votes), defeating a field of independent candidates. She is the first woman elected governor of the territory and is widely described as the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. territory. She succeeds term-limited Democrat Albert Bryan Jr. and is scheduled to take office on January 4, 2027, after more than a decade as the territory’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House.
Coverage of the victory has centered on this identity milestone. Local outlets such as the Virgin Islands Consortium ran headlines framing the result as “Makes American History as First Black Woman Elected Governor” and “Wins USVI in Landslide.” National and niche outlets (TheGrio, Black News, and others) similarly led with “first Black woman,” “historic first,” and parallels to other Black women candidates, often noting her prior roles and the territory’s history of elected governors dating to the 1970s. Policy priorities such as the Water and Power Authority crisis appear, but race and gender are the dominant framing.
Plaskett has a documented relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who lived in the USVI, owned Little St. James island, and used local entities. Epstein was already a registered sex offender after his 2008 Florida plea deal involving solicitation of a minor when the contacts began.
Key points from public records, estate documents, court filings, and reporting include:
- An introduction around 2014 via attorney Erika Kellerhals as a potential donor during Plaskett’s congressional campaign. Meetings occurred at his St. Thomas office (linked in later filings to tax-benefit structures). Scheduling emails discussed a visit to his island; she visited his Manhattan residence in 2018 to discuss contributions and referred to him as a “friend” in a contemporaneous message.
- Campaign contributions from Epstein and associates (lawyer Darren Indyke, accountant Richard Kahn, assistant Lesley Groff, and others) totaling tens of thousands of dollars across cycles—commonly cited in the $30,000+ range. After Epstein’s 2019 federal arrest, Plaskett directed equivalent amounts to local women’s and children’s organizations.
- Real-time text messages on February 27, 2019, during the House Oversight Committee hearing with Michael Cohen. Epstein, watching the proceedings, suggested lines of questioning (including about Trump aide Rhona Graff, whom he called the “keeper of the secrets”), commented on her appearance (“great outfit,” “you look great”), and texted “Good work” after her questioning. Plaskett replied and later said she sought information from a constituent as a former prosecutor. She has denied a personal friendship and called Epstein a “demon” whose behavior disgusted her.
- A 2025 House Republican effort to censure her and remove her from the Intelligence Committee over the texts failed in a close vote.
No criminal charges have been brought against Plaskett related to Epstein’s trafficking. Civil claims by some accusers naming USVI officials were dismissed. Plaskett has consistently described the contacts as constituent/donor interactions and information-gathering.
The Epstein record received significant coverage in late 2025 around document releases and the censure attempt. Election-night and immediate post-election reporting, however, has overwhelmingly highlighted her status as a Black woman making history rather than revisiting those earlier ties.
SOURCES:
2026 United States Virgin Islands gubernatorial election – Wikipedia
Stacey Plaskett Makes American History as First Black Woman Elected Governor, Wins USVI in Landslide
Exclusive | Court docs reveal Stacey Plaskett’s long ties to ‘constituent’ Epstein
Stacey Plaskett – Wikipedia
Plaskett, Moylan advance in territorial primary elections – Roll Call
Plaskett and Potter Win Democratic Primary as Turnout Reaches 47.75 Percent
Plaskett Wins Historic Governor’s Race as Voters Oust Incumbents, Lift Newcomers | St. Thomas Source
