We believe in a Virgin Islands that is heard, respected, and never sidelined.
Janelle K. Sarauw is a public servant who is not afraid to stand alone when the people’s interests are at stake. She asks the hard questions, challenges broken systems, and fights relentlessly for the Virgin Islands to be heard and respected.
- Stronger healthcare and Medicaid funding
- Protecting retirees through GERS reform
- Lower prescription drug costs
- Honoring our veterans
- Three terms in the Legislature
- A path to a Virgin Islands constitution
- Real federal representation that delivers
- Economic opportunity and disaster resilience
- A people-powered, not special-interest, campaign
- Born and raised on St. Thomas
- Ready to serve in Washington
Biography Of Political Party
2011
Political Commentator
2013
Value of Partisanship
2016
Nature of commitment
2020
The value of feasibility
We're a people-powered movement.
Team Sarauw is powered by everyday Virgin Islanders who believe our territory deserves a prepared, tested, and fearless voice. From knocking doors to spreading the word, this movement runs on people like you.
- Knock doors with us
- Make calls to voters
- Host a yard sign
- Share on social media
- Register your friends
- Chip in $26 for '26
Become a Volunteer
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A Proven Fighter for the Virgin Islands
Janelle K. Sarauw is a public servant who is not afraid to stand alone when the people's interests are at stake. She asks the hard questions. She challenges broken systems. And she fights, relentlessly, for the Virgin Islands to be heard, respected, and treated with dignity.
Born and raised on St. Thomas to Levron and Carla Sarauw, Janelle is a proud product of the Virgin Islands public school system and a graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School. As a scholar, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in Global Governance, a second major in Interdisciplinary Studies of Social Science, and a minor in History — then advanced her studies with a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Certificate in Servant Leadership.
Janelle returned home to teach U.S. History at her alma mater, investing in the next generation. She later served as Coordinator for the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation and as Chief Researcher and Special Projects Director in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. As an adjunct professor of Political Science at the University of the Virgin Islands, she challenged students to think critically about democracy, power, and their responsibility to shape the Territory's future.
In 2017, the people elected her to the 32nd Legislature of the Virgin Islands. She would go on to serve three consecutive terms. As a Senator, Janelle Sarauw became synonymous with preparation, precision, and principled courage — pressing leaders and agencies for answers, demanding transparency, and refusing to allow the Virgin Islands to be sidelined in its own recovery.
I understand what it means to govern in a system where resources are constrained, federal policies are not built with us in mind, and the margin for error is small.
— Janelle K. SarauwMore Than a Politician — Rooted in Community
Beyond policy and politics, Janelle remains deeply rooted in community. She is a proud culture-bearer; an Elite Coach for Boomers Volleyball Academy, mentoring student-athletes who compete nationally and earn placement at Division I and academically competitive universities; co-founder of the Sky-High Volleyball Club; a former board member of United Way of St. Thomas–St. John; and a leader within the Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals.
Her leadership has earned national recognition — including NBC Out's Pride 30 (2018), 35 Under 35 Emerging Leaders (2021), Florida Atlantic University's Distinguished Alumna Award (2019), and induction into the Leon Charney Diplomacy Hall of Fame.
But titles do not define Janelle Sarauw. Character does.
Her mission remains clear: to be an unwavering voice for the people of the Virgin Islands, to secure the respect and resources the Territory deserves, and to ensure that our home is not merely represented, but powerfully, unapologetically championed.
Record of Results
Janelle doesn't ask voters to take her word for it. She has a record — with bill numbers.
Health, Hospitals & Human Services
Expanded the territory's pharmaceutical assistance program to cover residents living with cancer and degenerative diseases.
Families & Consumer Affairs
Secured parental leave for government employees, paid time off for school visits, postpartum and healthcare protections for incarcerated women, mandatory discharge planners, and prohibited corporal punishment in schools.
Education
Eliminated corporal punishment in Virgin Islands schools, aligning the territory with modern child-welfare standards.
Workforce Development
Modernized apprenticeship standards, strengthening the skilled-workforce pipeline across the trades.
Government Operations & Accountability
Set minimum qualifications for WAPA board members to improve governance at the utility.
Restructured the Public Services Commission as a semi-autonomous agency and authorized WAPA to hire a turnaround management firm.
Set minimum qualifications for PSC members, raising the standard of utility oversight.
Created the Virgin Islands Virtual Information System, expanding digital access to government services.
Justice & Families
Granted seniors and terminally ill residents priority scheduling in civil court.
Simplified vehicle transfer after death, sparing families the cost and delay of probate.
Provided for expungement of marijuana-related records, delivering retroactive justice.
Expanded legalization from medical to adult use, opening a regulated industry and new revenue.
Culture & Economy
Institutionalized cultural heritage programming and created opportunities for local artists and vendors.
Created a dedicated scholarship for a critical, underserved court-services workforce.
Disaster Recovery & Land Use
Imposed a five-year moratorium on new gas-station construction, directing land use toward sustainable priorities.
Environment
Banned reef-harming sunscreen chemicals to protect our coral.
Reduced single-use plastic waste in VI waters.
Self-Governance
Established the Sixth Constitutional Convention, advancing the territory's pursuit of self-governance.
Professional Experience
- Senator, Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands (32nd, 33rd & 34th)
- Chief Researcher & Special Projects Director, Office of the Lieutenant Governor
- Coordinator, V.I. Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation
- U.S. History Teacher, Charlotte Amalie High School
- Adjunct Lecturer of Political Science, University of the Virgin Islands
Education
- M.A., Organizational Leadership, with a Certificate in Servant Leadership
- B.A., Political Science (Concentration: Global Governance); second major in Interdisciplinary Studies of Social Science; minor in History
Recognition
- NBC Out's Pride 30 (2018)
- 35 Under 35 Emerging Leaders (2021)
- FAU Distinguished Alumna Award (2019)
- Leon Charney Diplomacy Hall of Fame