One local councilman, Newport’s David Carlin III, apparently continues to ignore state campaign finance filing requirements, while another, Xaykham “Xay” Khamsyvoravong is raising significant funds as he’s rumored to be considering a run at a significant statewide office.
Meanwhile, legislators in powerful positions are padding campaign accounts as elections now are only months away.
These are the results of year-end campaign finance reports that were filed in early February, reflecting the last quarter of 2025. The next reports, for the first three months of 2026, are not due until April.
Statewide, the gubernatorial race is becoming clearer, as candidates on both sides were gearing up their fundraising campaigns, and some dropping out even before the campaign begins.
WhatsUpNewp reviewed finance reports for all incumbent legislators, council and school committee members in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton and Jamestown.
In most cases local council and school committee members raised little for campaigns that often don’t require significant spending. Here’s a look at some of what we found:
- Newport’s Ward 3 Councilman David Carlin III, according to the Board of Elections records, did not file the latest report. According to Board of Election records, Carlin has been cited for late filing violations on Feb. 2 of this year; October 31, July 31, April 30 and Jan. 31 in 2025; Dec. 3, Oct. 29, Oct. 8, April 30, and Jan. 31 of 2024; Oct. 31 of 2023.
- Newport’s at-large councilman, Xaykham “Xay” Khamsyvoravong, had a robust fourth quarter, raising $43,695 from individuals and $200 from Political Action Committees. That brings his campaign finance total at the end of 2025 to $158,907. Xay is rumored to be seriously considering a run for lieutenant governor, which would pit him in a primary election against the incumbent, Sabina Matos ($68,130), former State Sen. Cindy Coyne of Barrington ($101,662), and Providence City Councilor Sue AnderBois ($66,000). Former State Rep. John Loughlin ($17,328) is the only Republican who so far has declared for lieutenant governor.
- The region has the finance chairs of both the House and Senate, positions that are often well supported. State Sen. Lou DiPalma, D- Little Compton, Middletown, Newport and Tiverton ended 2025 with $125,414 in his finance account, and State Rep. Marvin Abney, D-Middltown, Newport, among the most prolific fundraisers in the legislature, finished 2025 with $252,014.
- Year-end campaign accounts for other area senators: Linda Ujifusa, D-Bristol, Portsmouth, $2,685; Walter Felag, D- Bristol, Tiverton, Warren, $60,846; and Dawn Euer, D-Newport, $54,837.
- Year-end totals for other representatives: John Edwards, D-Tiverton, $73,644; Michelle McGaw, D-Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton, $17,482; Terri-Denise Cortvriend, D-Middletown, Portsmouth, $23,911; Alex Finkelman, D-Jamestown, Middletown, $82,114; and Lauren J. Carson, D-Newport, $28,057.
The race for the Democratic nomination for governor because clearer when Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi, D-Warwick, who has nearly $4.4 million in his campaign account has said he will not run for governor. That sets up a rematch of the two top finishers in the last Democratic gubernatorial primary between Gov. Dan McKee ($1,110,487) and former CVS executive, Helena Buonanno Foulkes ($2,821,061).
Ashley Kalus was the Republican nominee in the last gubernatorial election and also has been rumored to be considering another run. Her campaign finance account is inactive. Aaron Guckian, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2022, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, and raised by year’s end $43,455.