GRENADA HEADING TO EARLY ELECTION AS PRIME MINISTER SETS NOVEMBER 5 POLLING DATE

ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA | October 8, 2026 — Grenada is preparing for an early general election after Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell announced that voters will head to the polls on November 5, nearly a year before the constitutional deadline in October 2027.

The announcement, made Sunday during the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) campaign and candidate launch in St. Mark, sets the stage for a contest involving the governing party, the main opposition New National Party (NNP), and other political groups seeking representation in Parliament.

According to the official Government Gazette, nomination day for candidates is scheduled for October 15, while special voting for police officers is set for November 2.

Mitchell, an attorney who led the NDC to victory in June 2022, is seeking a second consecutive term in office. His party currently holds nine of the 15 elected seats in Grenada’s House of Representatives, following its 9–6 victory over the NNP in the last general election.

The prime minister told supporters that the NDC is seeking another mandate to continue its development agenda for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

“You understand that we are about service…and that we are asking you humbly and respectfully to continue with the team that is the National Democratic Congress,” Mitchell said during the campaign launch.

The opposition NNP will enter the election under the leadership of Emmalin Pierre, who succeeded former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell as party leader in 2024.

Pierre will become the first woman to lead the NNP into a general election, marking a significant leadership transition for the party.

The election also follows Keith Mitchell’s departure from active parliamentary politics after 42 years representing St. George’s North West. During a special sitting of Parliament, the former prime minister reflected on his political career, declaring, “No one voted me out.”

The Democratic People’s Movement (DPM), established in November 2025 by former Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David, is also expected to participate in the election.

With all 15 parliamentary constituencies at stake, a party requires at least eight seats to secure a majority in the House of Representatives.

The election campaign is already drawing attention to economic issues, particularly the cost of living. Mitchell and Pierre have publicly discussed the possibility of a national debate, while competing positions on taxation and household expenses are emerging.

The NNP has proposed changes to taxes affecting essential goods and utilities, while the governing NDC is defending its economic management and seeking continued public support for its policies.

Parliament was dissolved on October 2, formally beginning the election process. Voter registration for the upcoming poll also closed on that date.

The November election will give Grenadians an opportunity to assess the government’s performance since 2022 and consider the policy proposals being presented by opposition parties.

It will also mark a new chapter in Grenadian politics, with the NNP contesting a general election under new leadership following Keith Mitchell’s long tenure at the forefront of the country’s political landscape.

Sources: Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), Grenada Government Gazette and regional election reporting.