By Tanesha Mundle

Copyright jamaica-gleaner

Rayharna Wright may not be a household name, but her quiet resolve and sharp strategic instincts have positioned her as a rising force in Jamaican political campaigning.

The St Catherine native was the architect behind Rhoda Moy Crawford’s first victory, and her recent re-election in Manchester Central, a fiercely contested seat many had written off.

However, while strategy is central to her role, Wright emphasises that politics begins and ends with people.

“Politics is people, and I love people. You can’t do this work if you don’t love people because people can be complex,” she said.

“Sometimes you will meet the nicest – just all they need is representation – but then you will meet the ones who you know are trying to benefit from the system.”

That human-centred approach helped guide the Jamaica Labour Party’s Manchester Central campaign through what many believed would be a near-impossible re-election battle.

In a constituency long considered a People’s National Party (PNP) stronghold – with high-profile opponents and visible financial backing – Wright’s strategy was simple: stay on the ground, stay focused, and don’t get distracted by the hype.

“We just look at people as people. We try to understand our opponents, understand their weaknesses, and use that to capitalise on our strategy,” she added.

And so the second victory came as no surprise.

“We knew that it wouldn’t have been an easy election. We didn’t treat it like it was a safe seat, understanding that people like Rhoda, people like the representation, but also appreciating that you have a lot of PNP supporters within the space.”

Before Crawford’s wins, Wright also successfully spearheaded the campaigns of Councillor Andrew Bellamy and Member of Parliament Floyd Green. However, her early career included setbacks, most notably a loss in 2011 with Othniel Lawrence.

Despite the wins and losses, the self-described country girl’s road to the campaign trail was never about the spotlight or status.

PASSION FOR REPRESENTATION

A seasoned campaign manager, youth-empowerment specialist, and strategist, Wright says her passion for representation fuels her drive even in Jamaica’s increasingly transactional political climate.

“Politics was never discussed in my household,” she said. “But growing up in the ’90s, I saw what was happening in the country and just wanted something different.”

Wright, who developed a strong interest in governance and national development from high school, was introduced to G2K – the youth affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party – by Delano Seiveright as a freshman at The University of the West Indies.

“And that is how my sojourn in politics and just expanding my horizon started,” she said, adding that she learned about the many different facets of politics, including polling, engaging people, and working with candidates.

A past student of Tacius Golding and Old Harbour High schools, Wright was born and raised in Bartons, a small rural community in southwestern St Catherine. She earned a master’s degree in law, specialising in political science and international relations, after completing her first degree in language and communications.

One of the challenges in modern political campaigning, Wright said, is the rise of transactional politics.

“You can no longer just campaign on achievement or on what you want to do. People are constantly trying to pull you into having a conversation around the transaction, and that really makes me feel uncomfortable because my integrity is so important to me.”

She recalled that this had been a major issue in Crawford’s campaign.

“We had people approach us on election day asking for money. And we said, respectfully, no. Come out and vote if you believe in the representation, but we’re not buying your support.”

To navigate those challenges, Wright said it is critical to be grounded in personal values.

“People respect honesty,” she said, noting that each candidate must determine their non-negotiables.

“What are you willing to compromise in terms of principle? And working with Rhoda, that was one of the things that we said: ‘It is not worth it if we have to go and engage in vote buying’. Don’t buy those people.”

Still, Wright admits that winning matters, so balancing strategy with integrity is crucial.

When asked how she handles misinformation or negative narratives about her candidates, Wright is quick to dismiss distraction.

“We don’t focus on those things,” she said. “It’s more important to stay grounded and to connect with the people.”

Unlike many campaign managers who step away after ballots are counted, Wright often remains closely connected both to her candidates and the communities they serve.

“People don’t leave me,” she said with a laugh. “Even after the election, they call me to check in or to raise concerns. And that’s fine because it means the connection was real.”

Naturally, one of her greatest joys is seeing promises fulfilled.

To young women interested in political work, Wright offers a simple message: step forward.

“There’s this idea that women are too emotional for politics. But it’s our emotion, our empathy, that makes us effective,” she said.

“We understand people. We listen. We care. That’s our superpower.”

Reflecting on the most important lesson from this election cycle, Wright offers a final insight.

“No matter how good you are as a member of parliament, when it is election time, you go back to the people as a candidate, and that is how they look at you. So you have to prove yourself all over again,” she said.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com