Bahamian Prime Minister Hon. Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and his ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) secured reelection Tuesday night in a sweeping election victory, making Davis the first Bahamian leader in nearly 30 years, since 1997, to win a second consecutive term in office.
Take a listen to Hon. Davis’ victory speech.
41 seats were being contested in the general election with 21 needed for a majority.
Preliminary results showed the PLP winning 33 of 41 seats, nearly matching its landslide victory in 2021.
In January 2026, Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson said that more than 196,000 people were registered to vote, adding that the Parliamentary Registration Department was continuing work to remove duplicate registrations and deceased persons from the register ahead of the general election.
By April 2026, Thompson said that more than 209,000 voters were registered. He also said that the new biometric voter card was not mandatory and that voters could use the existing purple voter card in the 2026 election.
For the first time in 24 years, nine women will sit in Parliament, with all seven of the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) female candidates reclaiming their seats and two women from the Free National Movement (FNM) emerging victorious in yesterday’s general election.
Re-elected MP Gleyns Hanna-Martin’s victory at the polls was especially notable as it marked the sixth consecutive time she has been elected to represent the constituency, maintaining her streak as the longest-serving woman in the history of Bahamian Parliament.
Women now account for nearly 22 percent of the 41 seats.
The last time nine women served in Parliament was in 2002.
In the 2021 general election, women accounted for 17 percent of the 39 seats in the House of Assembly.
In 2017, five women were elected to Parliament out of 39 seats.
In 2012, five women were also elected to Parliament out of 38 seats.
The 2026 general election was called months ahead of schedule, with officials saying the decision was made partly to avoid the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season later this year.
Throughout the campaign, major issues included the rising cost of living, crime, immigration, healthcare, and economic development.
The election was closely watched across the Caribbean, with regional and international observers monitoring the process.
