RI-01 Special Election Megathread

[Blue3]

We don't really have an elected left-wing at all. I think the U.S. Congress is more left-wing with its Democratic caucus.

[JMT]

https://twitter.com/tednesi/status/1633926267736080386?s=61&t=oKp4muVGiZGb8F...

[free my dawg]

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.

Of course. You have a Hawaii-esque dynamic of blatant Republicans running as Democrats to get elected.

[Bernie Derangement Syndrome Haver]

https://twitter.com/tednesi/status/1633926267736080386?s=61&t=oKp4muVGiZGb8F...

Not that it really matters, but Matos lives in the part of Providence in District 2. Funny that Magaziner had to carpetbag from CD1 and this would be the reverse just months later.

Matos was the worst performing statewide Democrat in 2022. She won by under 8 points and lost more towns than Hillary Clinton did. She outright lost CD2 - not even Hillary Clinton, Gina Raimondo or Seth Magaziner could do that.
Her electoral weakness could be a point against her in the primary if it's a crowded field. But it's CD1 so it's not at risk of flipping to the GOP. I would expect her to do well in the primary in Latino areas like Central Falls.

[NewYorkExpress]

Helena Foulkes is out, State Senator Sandra Cano is in. Also, in case you missed, State House Speaker, Joe Shekarchi is also out.

Cano chairs the State Senate Education Committee and would be a strong candidate if she wins. Assuming she or Matos gets through the primary, I would be comfortable moving this to Safe D.

So far, no Republicans have announced as of yet (unless you count Allen Waters, who is running in the Democratic Primary).

[smoltchanov]

We don't really have an elected left-wing at all. I think the U.S. Congress is more left-wing with its Democratic caucus.

Well, Democratic caucus in Congress is fairly left-wing itself now, so it's not especially convincing argument. Back in the days when "for every Tip O'Neill there was it's own Maston O'Neal" - another matter, but this was THEN...

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

We don't really have an elected left-wing at all. I think the U.S. Congress is more left-wing with its Democratic caucus.

Well, Democratic caucus in Congress is fairly left-wing itself now, so it's not especially convincing argument. Back in the days when "for every Tip O'Neal there was it's own Maston O'Neal" - another matter, but this was THEN...

I don’t get the O’Neal thing

[smoltchanov]

We don't really have an elected left-wing at all. I think the U.S. Congress is more left-wing with its Democratic caucus.

Well, Democratic caucus in Congress is fairly left-wing itself now, so it's not especially convincing argument. Back in the days when "for every Tip O'Neal there was it's own Maston O'Neal" - another matter, but this was THEN...

I don’t get the O’Neal thing

Tip O'Neill was Massachusetts liberal. Maston O'Neal - Georgia conservative. Both were Democrats, but in 99% of all votes voted opposite, so they, generally, "balanced" and "canceled" each other. Now, when there are no conservatives (and very few moderates) in Democratic caucus - it very seriously skews left..

[Orwell]

Buddy Cianci for Mayor

[NewYorkExpress]

State Representative Nathan Biah is in.

Biah will almost certainly be running from the right, as he had the endorsement of Rhode Island Right to Life in his 2020 run for State Representative.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

State Representative Nathan Biah is in.

Biah will almost certainly be running from the right, as he had the endorsement of Rhode Island Right to Life in his 2020 run for State Representative.

Gross

[NewYorkExpress]

Providence City Councilman John Goncalves is in.

State Representative Stephen Casey plans to announce this week.

[NerdyBohemian]

Providence City Councilman John Goncalves is in.

State Representative Stephen Casey plans to announce this week.

Casey won that seat over ten years ago by running against an archconservative democrat on a pro-union pension platform. He’d be a great candidate for a rust belt seat. Tepid endorsement right now, because while I love the union man vibes, I’m not so good on his other views tho I’d imagine they’d be tempered out in congress.

[NewYorkExpress]

Providence City Councilman John Goncalves is in.

State Representative Stephen Casey plans to announce this week.

Casey won that seat over ten years ago by running against an archconservative democrat on a pro-union pension platform. He’d be a great candidate for a rust belt seat. Tepid endorsement right now, because while I love the union man vibes, I’m not so good on his other views tho I’d imagine they’d be tempered out in congress.

Sabrina Matos is currently my preferred nominee for the seat.

[Blue3]

Sandra Cano is currently my preference. Very competent and engaging, representative of the district’s shifting demographics, great story, real roots here, and I liked her when she represented my neighborhood in my hometown’s local government. (Trivia: she’s also the fiance of our new state treasurer, who’s the former mayor of a neighboring city in our district, and mother of their kids)


But the field is getting crowded:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Rhode_Island%27s_1st_congressional_district_special_election



Declared

•   Nick Autiello, ESG consultant and former special advisor to then-Governor Gina Raimondo[3]
•   Mickeda Barnes, bus driver[4]
•   Stephanie Beauté, insurance software executive and candidate for Rhode Island Secretary of State in 2022[5]
•   Nathan Biah, state representative from the 3rd district (2021–present)[6]
•   Sandra Cano, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present)[7]
•   Stephen Casey, state representative from the 50th district (2013–present)[8]
•   John Goncalves, Providence city councilor[9]
•   Sabina Matos, Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island (2021–present)[10]
•   Allen Waters, investment consultant, Republican nominee for this district in 2022 and for U.S. Senate in 2020[11]
•   Aaron Regunberg, former state representative from the 4th district (2015–2019) and candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 2018[12]


Announcement pending

•   Ana Quezada, state senator from the 2nd district (2017–present)[13]


Publicly expressed interest

•   Marvin Abney, state representative from the 73rd district (2013–present)[14]
•   Gabe Amo, deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (2021–present)[15][16]
•   Dino Autiello, president of the North Providence town council[16]
•   Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, mayor of Woonsocket (2013–present) and former state representative from the 49th district (2007–2013)[17]
•   Donald Carlson, senior executive director of the Tsai Leadership Program at Yale Law School and former aide to then-U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy II[18]
•   Roberto DaSilva, mayor of East Providence (2019–present)[19]
•   Ted Donovan, progressive activist[16]
•   Dawn Euer, state senator from the 13th district (2017–present)[15]
•   Don Grebien, mayor of Pawtucket (2011–present)[19] (decision expected in April)[20]
•   Angelica Infante, commissioner of the Rhode Island Department of Education[21]
•   Meghan Kallman, state senator from the 15th district (2021–present)[15]
•   Nirva LaFortune, former Providence city councilor and candidate for mayor of Providence in 2022[16]
•   Patrick Lynch, former Rhode Island Attorney General (2003–2011)[16]
•   Joseph Paolino III, energy consultant and son of former Providence mayor Joseph Paolino Jr[16]
•   Maria Rivera, mayor of Central Falls (2021–present)[15][22]


Potential

•   Liz Beretta-Perik, member of the Democratic National Committee and former treasurer of the Rhode Island Democratic Party[23]
•   Sam Bell, state senator from the 5th district (2019–present)[19]
•   Christopher Blazejewski, Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (2021–present) from the 2nd district (2011–present)[24]
•   Gayle Goldin, former state senator from the 3rd district (2013–2021)[19]
•   Nellie Gorbea, former Rhode Island Secretary of State (2015–2023) and candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 2022[24]
•   Ryan Pearson, Majority Leader of the Rhode Island Senate (2023–present) from the 19th district (2013–present)[24]
•   David Segal, former state representative, candidate for the 2nd district in 2022, and candidate for this district in 2010[25]


Declined

•   Karen Alzate, state representative from the 60th district (2019–present)[26]
•   Gregg Amore, Rhode Island Secretary of State (2023–present)[16]
•   James Diossa, Rhode Island General Treasurer (2023–present)[24][16]
•   Louis DiPalma, state senator from the 12th district (2009–present)[26]
•   Brendan Doherty, former Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Republican nominee for this district in 2012[23]
•   Jorge Elorza, former mayor of Providence (2015–2023)[15]
•   Helena Foulkes, corporate executive and candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 2022[27]
•   Katherine Kazarian, state representative from the 63rd district (2013–present)[15][16]
•   Xay Khamsyvoravong, mayor of Newport[19][28]
•   Valarie Lawson, state senator from the 14th district (2019–present)[29]
•   Dan McKee, Governor of Rhode Island (2021–present)[26]
•   Cynthia Mendes, former state senator from the 8th district (2021–2023) and candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island in 2022[15][30]
•   Jeff Mutter, mayor of Cumberland[31]
•   Peter Neronha, Rhode Island Attorney General (2019–present)[24][32]
•   Joseph Paolino Jr, former U.S. Ambassador to Malta (1994–1996) and former mayor of Providence (1984–1991)[15]
•   Clay Pell, lawyer, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, and candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 2014[24][21]
•   Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2021–present) and former Governor of Rhode Island (2015–2021)[16]
•   Joe Shekarchi, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (2021–present)[32][30]
•   Brett Smiley, mayor of Providence (2023–present)[16]
•   Angel Taveras, former mayor of Providence (2011–2015) and candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 2014[15]

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

I think we can officially call this a clown car. And since Rhode Island has plurality primaries we could easily see someone win with less that 30%

[Blue3]

Only a few will actually rise to prominent and meet the threshold for debates. The primaries not until September, so we'll see how is actually able to stick around that long.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/JacobRubashkin/status/1642164884455452672

Regunberg seems likely to be the lone progressive running so far (unless there's something about one of the other candidates I don't know about).

He's apparently a supporter of the Green New Deal, and received mostly progressive support in his campaign for Lieutenant Governor in 2018 against Dan McKee.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I think we can officially call this a clown car. And since Rhode Island has plurality primaries we could easily see someone win with less that 30%

This isn't a clown car. It's two clown cars, forcibly thrown together and dumped on a big travel bus.

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

I think we can officially call this a clown car. And since Rhode Island has plurality primaries we could easily see someone win with less that 30%

This isn't a clown car. It's two clown cars, forcibly thrown together and dumped on a big travel bus.

It’s the whole damn circus

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/CATargetBot/status/1644027344506724354

[Blue3]

https://twitter.com/JacobRubashkin/status/1642164884455452672

Regunberg seems likely to be the lone progressive running so far (unless there's something about one of the other candidates I don't know about).

He's apparently a supporter of the Green New Deal, and received mostly progressive support in his campaign for Lieutenant Governor in 2018 against Dan McKee.

He's not the lone progressive.

The thing with Regunberg, what hurt him before, is he's  seen as someone from the national level wanting to come into Rhode Island to pick up a progressive seat. Not as a homegrown Rhode Islander.

There are other progressive candidates. But they're homegrown, known for what they've already done for Rhode Island first.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/TedNesi/status/1645473276691349508

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

Does anyone break 33% at this point?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Does anyone break 33% at this point?

Likely, no.