Voters across The Bahamas headed to the polls Tuesday in a closely watched general election that could determine whether Prime Minister Philip Davis secures a second consecutive term in office — something no Bahamian leader has achieved in nearly three decades.
The election pits Davis and his ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) against the opposition Free National Movement (FNM), led by Michael Pintard, as voters weigh concerns over affordability, housing, immigration and government accountability.
Polls opened across the archipelago at 8 a.m. and are scheduled to close at 6 p.m. A total of 209,264 registered voters are eligible to cast ballots.
Davis called the election ahead of schedule, months before it was constitutionally due in October. An official in the prime minister’s office said the decision was made to hold the vote before the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. The previous election in September 2021, which brought Davis and the PLP to power, was also called early.
At stake are 41 seats in the House of Assembly, two more than in the last election after recommendations from the independent constituencies commission led to the creation of additional constituencies. Heading into Tuesday’s vote, the PLP held a commanding majority with 32 of the previous 39 seats.
The governing party has campaigned on its economic record and social programs, while the FNM has focused heavily on rising living costs, energy prices and immigration issues.
Key concerns throughout the campaign have included stagnant wages, the high cost of living and an ongoing housing shortage. The International Monetary Fund noted those challenges in a 2025 report, while acknowledging government housing initiatives and suggesting additional public spending may still be needed.
In recent months, Davis’ administration moved to remove value-added tax from food sold in grocery stores, a measure the opposition argued would provide limited relief to struggling families.
Several races are drawing national attention.
In Garden Hills, incumbent PLP candidate Mario Bowleg is facing a challenge from former NBA player and three-time champion Rick Fox, who is running for the FNM in his first bid for elected office. Fox recently gained widespread attention after video circulated online showing him involved in a scuffle while setting up a tent for advanced voting.
Another closely watched contest involves former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, whom Davis defeated in 2021. Minnis is running as an independent candidate in the Killarney constituency, a seat he has held for nearly 20 years, after the FNM declined to ratify him as its candidate.
Immigration — particularly migration from neighboring Haiti — has also emerged as a major issue during the campaign. Both Minnis and the FNM have made the issue central to their messaging, with the opposition party recently adopting the slogan “Save our sovereignty.”
Regional and international observers are monitoring the vote. A 12-member observer mission from CARICOM arrived in the country last week and is being led by Herman St. Helen, chief elections officer of the Saint Lucia Electoral Department. Observer teams from the Organization of American States and the Commonwealth of Nations have also been deployed.
