At the USVI Democratic Party Caucus on Saturday, President Joe Biden defeated Marianne Williamson by a margin of 99.006 percent to .004 percent, the U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic Party reported.
The caucus was conducted as part of the Democratic Party’s presidential primaries. This is the opportunity for voters in the Virgin Islands to nominate the Democratic presidential nominee and represent the Virgin Islands at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, said Stedmann Hodge, Jr., state chair, in a press release.
The caucus system determines the additional delegates that will represent the USVI at the Democratic National Convention. Voters select six candidates, three males and three females, and rank them by preference. Here’s how the votes will be counted: the two male candidates who receive the most votes are selected as delegates and two female candidates from the district of St. Thomas-St. John and one male candidate and one female candidate from the district of St. Croix. This process is used to provide equity for male and female representation during alternating years for a Democratic National Convention, with the candidates receiving the most votes in each district being selected as a delegate, said State Chair Hodge.
The elected delegates will join the automatic delegates, who are the governor, delegate to Congress, national committeeman, national committeewoman, state chair, and vice chair, who will also represent the territory at the Democratic National Convention, according to the press release.
The Virgin Islands offers a small delegation that will make a significant impact when participating in the DNC Roll Call and nominating President Joe Biden and Kamila Harris for a second term. This is the one unique opportunity for the territories to participate in the National Election Process, the press release stated.
Seven of 13 delegates to the Democratic National Convention are pledged to presidential contenders based on the results of the voting in today’s Virgin Islands Territorial Convention. A mandatory 15 percent threshold is required in order for a presidential contender to be pledged National Convention delegates. The USVI Democratic Party Caucus met the required threshold by receiving 467 Votes for Biden, the release stated.
2024 V.I. Democratic Party Caucus Election Results
Presidential Selection
- Biden – 467 Territorial (335 STX, 132 STT/ STJ)
- Williamson – 0
- Uncommitted – 0
Delegate Candidates
St. Thomas/St. John
Males (2)
- Kyza Callwood – 74
- Kevin Rodriquez – 93
Females (2)
- Delekah Callwood – 41
- Barbara Petersen – 77
- Riise Richards – 62
St. Croix
Males (2)
- Cecil Benjamin – 86
- John Gumbs – 96
- Wilfredo Guzman – 66
- Robert Rios- 202
- Ronald Russell – 51
Female (1)
- Carolyn Burke – 158 *
- Yvette Edwards – 166
* Alternate
