RI-01 Special Election Megathread

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3867591-democratic-rep-cicilline-to-leave-congress-in-june/

Stepping down to run a foundation.

[Zedonathin2020]

Wouldn’t it be funny if that one state Senator who twerked for a TikTok won the special election?

[Grumpier Than Thou]

I wonder if Matt Brown will run.

[JMT]

https://twitter.com/lisakashinsky/status/1628043232104914944?s=46&t=m3RSLAQg...

[NewYorkExpress]

If Allan Fung carpetbags over from the Second District, this one might actually be competitive. Otherwise, Safe D.

[Tekken_Guy]

If Allan Fung carpetbags over from the Second District, this one might actually be competitive. Otherwise, Safe D.

Is this a joke? RI-01 is several points bluer than the 2nd.

[Oryxslayer]

If Allan Fung carpetbags over from the Second District, this one might actually be competitive. Otherwise, Safe D.

Is this a joke? RI-01 is several points bluer than the 2nd.

He's also arguably reached the point of perennial candidate after the 2022 failure.

[Sir Mohamed]

Can we have more GOP reps resign and shrink their majority please?

[Duke of York]

If Allan Fung carpetbags over from the Second District, this one might actually be competitive. Otherwise, Safe D.

Unlikely. This is a much bluer district. It includes Providence and every town but one voted Democrat in the last election.

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

RI-01 has a significant hispanic population, so we could see the first Hispanic congressman from New England. Jorge Elzora would likely be that person.

[Horus]

Wouldn’t it be funny if that one state Senator who twerked for a TikTok won the special election?

Beat me to it, but all jokes aside Tiara Mack would make a pretty good congresswoman. She's progressive, young, attractive and fun.

[Zedonathin2020]

RI-02 has a significant hispanic population, so we could see the first Hispanic congressman from New England. Jorge Elzora would likely be that person.

Oddly enough wikipedia has him listed under both "Potential" and "Declined"

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

RI-02 has a significant hispanic population, so we could see the first Hispanic congressman from New England. Jorge Elzora would likely be that person.

Oddly enough wikipedia has him listed under both "Potential" and "Declined"

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Interestingly the only public expressed interest (on Wikipedia) are all women and 4 are also hispanic.

[Blue3]

I just made a thread of the election (I thought this was more about the resignation).

He’s not just going to run a foundation, he’s going to run THE premiere nonprofit in the state that basically funds and coordinates all nonprofits, and this position could sometimes be seen as more influential than the Governor, and definitely more influential to RI than any non-Speaker congressperson.

From WPRI (just posted in my thread)., below.

As for those who mentioned Elorza, even if he didn’t already decline, he’s not popular in Providence and even less in the state. His predecessor Taveras would have a much better chance, and Taveras also declined. Elorza has been a showboat, making noise on issues he shouldn’t focus on, being silent on issues he should speak about, and only commenting on the state of education after he gave his public school district over to the state department of education to run (which has been really bad, from all sides). He’s a nice guy probably, but a worthless do-nothing mayor, who didn’t run for Governor because he at least recognized he’d have little support.

As for Tiara Mack, never heard of her before or after the Twitter thing, which didn’t even make local headlines beyond maybe one news day here.

Someone else DOA from the list below is Patrick Lynch. I know his family, and saw him in the primary debates when Cicilline first ran. He has connections. But even in 2010 he seemed like an out of touch DINO.

I don’t think Matos goes for it, just getting first full term as LG.

I don’t see Grebien, Shekarchi, Gorbea, or Neronha going for it. But they have some potential if they did.

I can see Sandra Cano going places. And maybe Foulkes, if she enters it. Mayyyybeeee Cynthia Mendes and Nirva LaFortune.

If this election has no Fungs, it’ll be an improvement. So sick hearing about them. Allan Fung, the perennial candidate who really wants to become President one day but can’t get past mayor after a dozen years and 4 elections trying.


Exploring

• Helena Foulkes, former CVS executive and 2022 gubernatorial candidate (Democrat)
• Sabina Matos, Rhode Island lieutenant governor (Democrat)
• Dawn Euer, state senator, Judiciary Committee chair (Democrat)
• Maria Rivera, Central Falls mayor (Democrat)
• Sandra Cano, state senator, Education Committee chair (Democrat)
• Meghan Kallman, state senator (Democrat)
• Cynthia Mendes, former state senator and 2022 lieutenant governor candidate (Democrat)
• Nirva LaFortune, former Providence city councilor and 2022 candidate for mayor
• Patrick Lynch, former Rhode Island attorney general
• Dino Autiello, North Providence town councilor
• John Goncalves, Providence city councilor

Not ruling it out

• Nellie Gorbea, former secretary of state and 2022 gubernatorial candidate (Democrat)
• Peter Neronha, RI attorney general and former Rhode Island U.S. attorney (Democrat)
• Joseph Shekarchi, R.I. House speaker (Democrat)
• Gabe Amo, President Biden official (Democrat)
• Jessica de la Cruz, R.I. Senate Minority Leader (Republican)
• Katherine Kazarian, State representative (Democrat)
• Allan Fung, former Cranston mayor, two-time gubernatorial candidate and one-time congressional candidate (Republican)
• Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, State representative (Republican)
• Donald Grebien, Pawtucket mayor (Democrat)
• Bob DaSilva, East Providence mayor (Democrat)
• Xay Khamsyvoravong, Newport mayor

Not interested

• Jorge Elorza, former Providence mayor (Democrat)
• Angel Taveras, former Providence mayor (Democrat)
• Joe Paolino Jr., former Providence mayor (Democrat)
• Brett Smiley, Providence mayor (Democrat)



Edit:

Did someone delete my thread instead of merge it???

To repeat:

Congressman Cicilline (D-RI) resigning in June.

He took over Patrick Kennedy’s seat in the 2010 midterm (which had been mostly bad for Democrats) and his district (mine) is a little more D-blue than the Langevin/Magaziner 2nd district.

He had been rising in House Leadership, I think #4 position.

Cicilline’s new job will be leading the Rhode Island Foundation, which basically runs a lot of policy and funds/focuses most nonprofits in the state.

https://www.wpri.com/target-12/whos-in-the-mix-to-replace-congressman-cicilline/

[oldtimer]

If Allan Fung carpetbags over from the Second District, this one might actually be competitive. Otherwise, Safe D.

Unlikely. This is a much bluer district. It includes Providence and every town but one voted Democrat in the last election.

And it would be a special election which favours Democrats even more.

[Progressive Pessimist]

If Allan Fung carpetbags over from the Second District, this one might actually be competitive. Otherwise, Safe D.

Fung's last chance was winning the RI-2 election from last year, and he didn't. He is done being relevant in Rhode Island and without him the state's GOP probably becomes weaker too.

[free my dawg]

If Allan Fung carpetbags over from the Second District, this one might actually be competitive. Otherwise, Safe D.

Fung's last chance was winning the RI-2 election from last year, and he didn't. He is done being relevant in Rhode Island and without him the state's GOP probably becomes weaker too.

Nah, they have Foulkes

[MATTROSE94]

Could Jessica de la Cruz win? I always felt she is a very strong candidate who has a lot of appeal to conservative Catholics and white working class voters in Rhode Island.

[NewYorkExpress]

Could Jessica de la Cruz win? I always felt she is a very strong candidate who has a lot of appeal to conservative Catholics and white working class voters in Rhode Island.

I would say, that in this district, a candidate like Fung or de la Cruz, the best they could do is run a competitive race and make Democrats spend money they really shouldn't be spending. They aren't actually going to win, barring a comically weak Democratic nominee and the political environment getting a lot worse for Democrats in Rhode Island.

[NerdyBohemian]

Could Jessica de la Cruz win? I always felt she is a very strong candidate who has a lot of appeal to conservative Catholics and white working class voters in Rhode Island.

I know it’s a lifetime ago, but the RIGOP ran a well funded candidate and serious challenger against Cicilline who was plagued by scandal over his tenure as mayor of Providence ten years ago. He won by double digits and they haven’t bothered since.

[NewYorkExpress]

Could Jessica de la Cruz win? I always felt she is a very strong candidate who has a lot of appeal to conservative Catholics and white working class voters in Rhode Island.

I know it’s a lifetime ago, but the RIGOP ran a well funded candidate and serious challenger against Cicilline who was plagued by scandal over his tenure as mayor of Providence ten years ago. He won by double digits and they haven’t bothered since.

It's a special election, so the dynamics are going to be different than they would be if this race was occurring in November 2024.

[Minnesota Mike]

Remember when the big question about RI was who was favored in the primary between Cicilline and Langevin because RI was certain to lose a seat in redistricting? Shows yet again it's not worthwhile looking to far ahead in politics.

[Bernie Derangement Syndrome Haver]

One candidate who is running is Allen Waters, who was the Republican nominee against Senator Jack Reed in 2020 (lost terribly) and the Republican nominee for this very same seat in 2022 against Cicilline (lost terribly).

Now he's running an anti-same sex marriage "Blue Dog Democrat" campaign. Lol.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

One candidate who is running is Allen Waters, who was the Republican nominee against Senator Jack Reed in 2020 (lost terribly) and the Republican nominee for this very same seat in 2022 against Cicilline (lost terribly).

Now he's running an anti-same sex marriage "Blue Dog Democrat" campaign. Lol.

I had to look him up to see how 2006-esque his campaign is. He won't win but maybe he'll turn out his base -- that being, all 11 people on Facebook who "liked" his ugly campaign site.

[Roll Roons]

One candidate who is running is Allen Waters, who was the Republican nominee against Senator Jack Reed in 2020 (lost terribly) and the Republican nominee for this very same seat in 2022 against Cicilline (lost terribly).

Now he's running an anti-same sex marriage "Blue Dog Democrat" campaign. Lol.

Funny thing is that Rhode Island Democrats actually have a fairly robust moderate/conservative wing.

This guy obviously has no chance, but it's certainly possible that a split field allows a candidate from that wing of the party to win.