As campaigning continues ahead of the 2026 election season, civic organization TheFuture has begun its candidate vetting process for individuals seeking seats in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Board of Elections, and the Virgin Islands Board of Education.
The organization announced that it is inviting candidates to complete a written questionnaire and participate in a 30-minute interview as part of the interview process, which will help inform its 2026 slate of endorsed candidates. According to TheFuture, the initiative is intended to evaluate candidates’ approaches to governance, leadership, and public service while encouraging transparency throughout the election cycle
Founder Shani DeWindt said the organization decided to publicly announce the process after recognizing that some campaign communications may not have reached every candidate directly. “We want to make sure every eligible candidate has a fair opportunity to participate in this process. Campaign season is busy, emails can be missed, and important information can sometimes end up in a spam folder,” DeWindt said.
“By sharing this invitation publicly, we hope to reach candidates where they are and ensure that no one misses the opportunity simply because they did not see the original email. Our goal is to conduct a thoughtful, transparent process that helps Virgin Islanders learn more about the people seeking to serve them,” DeWindt said.
TheFuture describes itself as a coalition of Virgin Islanders focused on promoting transparent, ethical, and accountable leadership throughout the territory. Organization leaders say participation in the vetting process is voluntary and does not guarantee that a candidate will be included on the group’s 2026 slate. Though at least three of the organization’s founders are candidates for the Legislature, leaders said the vetting process will be carried out exclusively by members who are not seeking elected office.
Candidates wishing to participate are asked to complete a candidate questionnaire before scheduling a 30-minute interview with members of the organization. Interviews are expected to take place between July 16 and July 24, with candidates selected on TheFuture’s slate expected to be notified following the review process. Public announcements are anticipated on July 25.
Additional information about the candidate vetting process, including participation requirements, is available through TheFuture’s website.
