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Independent
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Oakland Benta

Independent candidate for Governor

Live Odds — U.S. Virgin Islands Governor winner?

Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.

2%chance to win

$75.0KNOV 4, 2026

Candidate Overview

Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.

Current roleLaw enforcement officer (Virgin Islands Police Department)

PartyIndependent

GenderMale

BackgroundLaw enforcement officer (Virgin Islands Police Department)

Notable personal detailsOakland Benta is a U.S. Virgin Islands politician and retired law enforcement officer. He served as a senator in the 33rd Legislature of the Virgin Islands representing the St. Croix District after being elected in 2019, and previously served with the Virgin Islands Police Department for more than 15 years, including as St. Croix Police Chief. He ran for lieutenant governor in 2022 as Kent Bernier Sr.’s running mate and filed as an Independent candidate for governor in 2026 with Merwin Potter as his lieutenant governor running mate.

SourcesShow
viiq.orgnewsfeed.wtjx.orgviconsortium.comelectionarchive.vivote.govvivote.govwikizero.orgoaklandca.govpolitics1.comen.wikipedia.orgballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.comgovinfo.govpbs.orgoaklandpd.comdopusvi.orgstthomassource.comacdems.orgalamedacountyca.govreddit.comlegvi.orgviconsortium.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.comvisupremecourt.hosted.civiclive.comsupreme.vicourts.orgcdnsm5-hosted.civiclive.comvi.govbizprofile.netltg.gov.viballotpedia.orgfacebook.compredictionedge.cominstagram.comcalmatters.orgnga.orgnews.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgwikidata.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgballotready.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orguscode.house.govenergy.senate.govcongress.govusc-cdn.house.govhistory.house.govsbc.senate.gov

Political Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Oakland Benta emphasizes diversifying the economy, growing industry, and attracting investors to the territory. He also says the government needs to audit its accounts and fix shortfalls before it can better stand on its own financially.

Healthcare

Benta has said he would focus on health care and wants a permanent hospital built, or a floating hospital used until the new Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center is completed. He has also appeared alongside nurses in a protest over hospital funding and staffing concerns.

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Public Safety & Guns

Oakland Benta has emphasized law-enforcement-led approaches to public safety. In legislative testimony, he said a proposed gun violence prevention office was redundant because related functions already existed within the Bureau of Corrections, the Attorney General’s office, the Law Enforcement Planning Commission, and the Virgin Islands Police Department.

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