In a surprising turn of events, Republican front-runner Donald Trump emerged victorious in the Republican caucus held in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Thursday. This win marks Trump's third triumph in the Republican contest this election season and further strengthens his position as a frontrunner in the race for the GOP presidential nomination.
Trump secured an overwhelming 73.98% of the votes, leaving his closest competitor, Nikki Haley, trailing behind with a respectable 26.02%. Speaking to his supporters over the phone, Trump expressed his gratitude, saying, 'We expected to win, but we didn't expect to win by that much. You are incredible people I will never forget.'
Voters from St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John turned up in large numbers to participate in the caucus, which took place in various venues, including a popular rum bar. Despite unfavorable weather conditions, the turnout was deemed impressive by election observers. One voter, Valerie Stiles, a 71-year-old retail salesperson, expressed her satisfaction with the early caucus, stating that 'the territories are overlooked a lot of the time.'
It is worth noting that the U.S. Virgin Islands officials defied several GOP party rules by holding the caucus earlier than allowed. Republican Party regulations state that only Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina can host primaries or caucuses before March 1. Additionally, any contest held before March 15 must allocate delegates proportionally, while the U.S. Virgin Islands opted for ranked-choice voting.
Republican party officials defended their decision to hold the contest early, arguing that it was essential for the U.S. territories to have a voice in the nomination process since they cannot vote in the general election. Gordon Ackley, chairman of the Republican Party in the Virgin Islands, highlighted the need for every state and territory to make its voters as relevant as possible, stating that it was 'absurd' for a few states to monopolize the primary calendar.
Following the caucus, the U.S. Virgin Islands plans to send nine delegates and six alternates to the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin in July. However, the Republican National Committee maintains that the U.S. Virgin Islands is entitled to only four delegates. If the territory insists on sending nine delegates, they will have to appear before the convention committee on credentials and await a report to determine the seating of their delegates.
Trump's decisive victory in the U.S. Virgin Islands reaffirms his widespread appeal among Republican voters, and his momentum seems unstoppable as the race heads towards Super Tuesday. With previous wins in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada (where he was not on the ballot), Trump has positioned himself as a formidable force within the Republican Party.
As the contest evolves, it remains to be seen how other candidates like Nikki Haley and Chris Christie will respond to Trump's continued success. The path to the Republican nomination grows narrower for the remaining contenders, making each subsequent contest increasingly crucial in determining the outcome of this highly contested race.
