# 1997 Bahamian general election

General elections were held in the Bahamas on 14 March 1997. The result was a victory for the Free National Movement, which won 34 of the 40 seats. Hubert Ingraham was sworn in for a second term as Prime Minister on 18 March.
As of 2023, this is the most recent time that a Prime Minister has been re-elected for a second consecutive term in the Bahamas.

## Results

| | Free National Movement | 68,766 | 57.70 | 34 | +1 |
| | Progressive Liberal Party | 49,932 | 41.90 | 6 | –10 |
| | Independents | 475 | 0.40 | 0 | New |
| Total | Total | 119,173 | 100.00 | 40 | –9 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 119,173 | 98.43 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 1,900 | 1.57 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 121,073 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 129,946 | 93.17 | | |
| Source: Caribbean Elections ||||||

### Elected MPs

| Number | Name | Party | District | Ethnicity |
| 1 | Sylvia Scriven | Free National Movement | New Providence East - St. Margaret | Black |
| 2 | Pierre Dupuch | Free National Movement | New Providence East - Shirlea | White |
| 3 | William Allen | Free National Movement | New Providence East - Montagu | Black |
| 4 | Juanianne Dorsette | Free National Movement | New Providence East – Fox Hill | Black |
| 5 | Janet Bostwick | Free National Movement | New Providence East - Yawmacraw | Black |
| 6 | Lestor Turnquest | Free National Movement | New Providence East - Malcolm Creek | Black |
| 7 | Carl Bethell | Free National Movement | New Providence East – Holy Cross | Black |
| 8 | Zhivargo Laing | Free National Movement | New Providence West – Fort Charlotte | Black |
| 9 | Watkins Floyd | Free National Movement | New Providence West - Delaporte | Black |
| 10 | Anthony Rolle | Free National Movement | New Providence West - Carmichael | Black |
| 11 | Frank Watson | Free National Movement | New Providence West – Adelaide | Black |
| 12 | Dion Faulkes | Free National Movement | New Providence West – Blue Hills | Black |
| 13 | Orville Turnquest | Free National Movement | New Providence West – Mt. Moriah | Black |
| 14 | Gregory Williams | Free National Movement | New Providence West – Bain Town | Black |
| 15 | Bradley Roberts | Progressive Liberal Party | New Providence South – Grants Town | Black |
| 16 | Perry Christie | Progressive Liberal Party | New Providence South – Centreville | Black |
| 17 | Cynthia A. Pratt | Progressive Liberal Party | New Providence South – St. Cecilia | Black |
| 18 | Phillip Galanis | Progressive Liberal Party | New Providence South - Englerston | Black |
| 19 | Algernon Allen | Free National Movement | New Providence South - Marathon | Black |
| 20 | Italia Johnson | Free National Movement | New Providence South - Garden Hills | Black |
| 21 | Theresa Moxey-Ingraham | Free National Movement | New Providence South – Golden Gates | Black |
| 22 | Tennyson Wells | Free National Movement | New Providence South – Bamboo Town | Black |
| 23 | Bernard Nottage | Progressive Liberal Party | New Providence South – Kennedy | Black |
| 24 | Michael Smith | Free National Movement | New Providence South – South Beach | Black |
| 25 | David Wallace | Free National Movement | Grand Bahama – West End & Bimini | Black |
| 26 | Cornelius A. Smith | Free National Movement | Grand Bahama – Pine Ridge | Black |
| 27 | Kenneth Russell | Free National Movement | Grand Bahama – High Rock | Black |
| 28 | Lindy Russell | Free National Movement | Grand Bahama – Eight Mile Rock | Black |
| 29 | Neko Grant | Free National Movement | Grand Bahama – Lucaya | Black |
| 30 | David Thompson | Free National Movement | Grand Bahama – Marco City | Black |
| 31 | Earl Deveaux | Free National Movement | Andros – North Andros & Berry Islands | Black |
| 32 | Lynden Pindling | Progressive Liberal Party | Andros – South Andros & Mangrove Cay | Black |
| 33 | Hubert Ingraham | Free National Movement | Abaco – North Abaco | Black |
| 34 | Robert Sweeting | Free National Movement | Abaco – South Abaco | White |
| 35 | Alvin Smith | Free National Movement | Eleuthera – North Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, & Harbour Island | Black |
| 36 | Anthony Miller | Free National Movement | Eleuthera – South Eleuthera | Black |
| 37 | James Miller | Free National Movement | Cat Island, San Salvador & Rum Cay | Black |
| 38 | Elliot Lockheart | Free National Movement | Exuma – Exuma | Black |
| 39 | James Knowles | Free National Movement | Long Island – Long & Ragged Island | White |
| 40 | Vernon Symonette | Free National Movement | Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked, Acklins, & Long Cay Islands | Black |
| Source: Election Passport |||||