With two weeks to go, incumbents hold significant fundraising edge

There are just two weeks until the election, and if you count dollars, incumbents appear to be in a pretty strong position. But then again, it’s not necessarily the dollars that count; it’s the votes.

But dollars do buy ads, staff, billboards, lawn signs, consultants … all of which can be helpful in a political campaign. Band-Aids, too, for those knuckles that are scraped and scratched from knocking on countless doors.

The bigger the office, the more money is raised. However, not many council or school committee candidates raise significant money, although there are some exceptions.

The disparity between the haves and have-nots underscores the importance of considering campaign finance regulations that level the playing field.

Here’s a look at candidates’ finances heading into the homestretch, according to the latest candidate filings with the Board of Elections. Listed are only contested general election races.

• U.S. Senate
  • Incumbent Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D, – cash on hand as of Sept. 30, 2024 — $2,783,646.
  • Former state Rep. Patricia Morgan, R, cash on hand as of Sept. 30, 2024 —  $119,322.
• U.S. House of Representatives, District 1
  • Incumbent Representative Gabriel Amo, D, cash on hand on Sept. 30, 2024 — $1,015,401.
  • Republican Allen R. Waters, cash on hand on Sept. 30, 2024 — $4,355.
  • Independent C.D. Reynolds, nothing reported on the Federal Election Commission website.
• U.S. House of Representatives District 2
  • Incumbent Seth Magaziner, cash on hand on Sept. 30, 2024 — $1,098,579.
  • Republican Steven Corvi, cash on hand on Sept. 30, 2024 — $2,500.
• RI Senate, Dist. 10, Tiverton and Warren
  • Incumbent Walter S. Felag, Jr., D, cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 — $61,302.
  • Republican Allyn E. Meyers, cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 — $4,144.
• RI Senate, Dist. 13, Newport and Jamestown
  • Incumbent Dawn Euer, D, cash on hand as of Oct 7, 2024 — $58,005.
  • Republican David A. Quiroa, cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 — $330.

In all town races, we are reporting only campaign accounts that are reporting more than $500 in their accounts.

• Jamestown
  • Town Council (elect five)
    • Incumbent Erik Brine, D, cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 — $1,563; Independent Richard J. Smith, $936.
• Little Compton
  • Town Council (elect five) and School Committee (elect two), no candidates reporting a balance over $500.

• Middletown
  • Non-Partisan Town Council
    • Cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 –Incumbent Paul M. Rodrigues, $2,000; Incumbent Christopher Logan, $2,547; Incumbent, Dennis Turano, $13,433; Antoine Viveiros, $534; Leonidas Amarant, $963.
• Newport
  • Non-partisan council at-large (elect four)
    • Cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 – Incumbent Mayor Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong, $51,255; Ian Billings Martins, $2,450; Incumbent Mark D. Aramli, $25,783; Charles M. Holder, who is currently the councilman representing the second ward, now running at-large, $7,033; John M. Walker, $4,196; Stephanie Smyth, $2,778.
  • Non-partisan council, first ward (elect one)
    • Cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 – Hugo J. DeAscentis, Jr., $5,069; Ellen M. Pinnock, $2,488.
  • Non-partisan school committee (elect seven)
    • Cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 – Robert D. Power, $1,201; Incumbent Stephanie Winslow, $2,818; Elizabeth Cullen, $922; Incumbent Kendra Wilson Muenter, $1,650; Penelope Billington Hunt, $3,638; Incumbent Sandra J. Flower, $894. 
• Portsmouth
  • Town Council (elect seven)
    • Cash on hand as of Oct. 7, 2024 – Republican, David A. Reise, $361; Incumbent Juan Carlos Payero, Democrat, $615; Incumbent John Mark Ryan, Democrat, $500; Independent Mary A. McDowell, $550. 
    • School Committee (elect three) – None of the four candidates reporting more than $53 in their accounts.
• Tiverton
  • Non-Partisan Town Council (elect seven)
    • John Chelo, $2,600; Incumbent John G. Edwards, V, $3,373.
  • Non-Partisan School Committee (elect three) – none reporting more than $450.