The U.S. Virgin Islands Area Labor Federation announced Wednesday that Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett received the most support in a preliminary gubernatorial straw poll conducted following the organization’s Democratic gubernatorial debate last week.
According to the federation, Plaskett received 50% of the vote, followed by Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach with 33.4% and former Sen. Donna Frett-Gregory with 16.6%.
The results were announced during an ALF news conference Wednesday, five days after the federation hosted the first Democratic gubernatorial debate of the 2026 election cycle on June 26.
The debate featured Frett-Gregory, Plaskett and Roach, who outlined their visions for the territory and answered questions about issues facing the U.S. Virgin Islands. Moderated by Moleto Smith Jr. and Emily Carter, the debate gave voters and ALF members an opportunity to hear directly from each candidate before participating in the straw poll.
ALF officials said the poll was open to both federation members and members of the public who attended the debate or completed the online survey afterward.
Although Plaskett received the highest level of support, ALF President Carver Farrow emphasized that the straw poll was only preliminary. He said a second poll will be conducted exclusively among ALF members to determine which candidate the organization should support in the Democratic primary.
Farrow also noted that the federation has not decided whether it will endorse a candidate in the general election.
During the news conference, Farrow discussed the federation’s priorities and the role organized labor plays in the territory. He said 77% of government employees are unionized and rely on labor organizations to advocate for higher wages, safer working conditions and employee benefits.
When they are discarded, it sends the message that working people’s voices and concerns are not important, he said.
Farrow said only three labor unions currently have contracts with the government and argued that unions are often excluded from important policy discussions.
“The organization intends to support a candidate who will listen to the people,” he said.
Founded to give organized labor a stronger voice in government, the Area Labor Federation represents more than 4,000 members. The organization has also partnered with more than 8,000 retirees to advocate for issues including health care, homeowners insurance, the rising cost of living and infrastructure.
Farrow said improving wages remains the federation’s top priority.
“We don’t have a living wage … the governor only put 5 million dollars for wage increases for all 28 unions … That tells us that we are not a priority,” he said.
Farrow said the federation believes its membership will play a significant role in the upcoming election.
“When a governor gets in there are only two types of people he recognizes. The people with the money that helped him get in … and also the people who have the vote. We are gonna have the vote,” he said.
