Nearly half of Rhode Island’s General Assembly seats will be uncontested in the 2024 elections, according to the list of candidates who filed their declaration papers this week, and as reported by the Secretary of State’s office.
That includes all of the Newport area legislators, except for Rep. John Edwards, D-Dist. 70 of Tiverton; Senator Walter Felag, D-Dist. 10 of Tiverton and Warren; and Senator Dawn Euer, D-Dist. 13 of Newport and Jamestown.
Edwards is opposed by Republican Christopher Borden, Felag faces Republican Allyn E. Meyers, ad Euer is opposed by Republican David A. Quiroa.
That leaves unopposed Representatives Michelle McGaw, D-Dist. 71 of Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton; Terri-Denise Cortvriend, D-Dist. 72 of Middletown and Portsmouth; Marvin Abney, D-Dist. 73 of Middletown and Newport; Alex Finkelman, D-Dist. 74 of Jamestown and Middletown; and Lauren Carson, D-Dist. 75 of Newport.
In the Senate, unopposed are Linda Ujifusa, D-Dist. 11 of Bristol and Portsmouth and Lou DiPalma, D-Dist. 12 of Little Compton and Middletown.
In the House of Representatives, 48 percent of positions are unopposed, and in the Senate, it’s 42 percent. Overall 52 General Assembly positions are unopposed of 113 districts in both the House and Senate, which equates to about 46 percent of positions uncontested.
However, the top legislators in both the Senate and House have opponents. Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchie, D-Dist. 23 of Warwick is being challenged by Republican Dana James Traversie. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, D-Dist. 4 of Providence, North Providence faces a primary election against fellow Democrat Leonardo Americo Cioe, Jr.
In both races, there is a significant disparity between the campaign funds for Shekarchie and Ruggerio and their opponents. As of the last reporting period, the first quarter ending at the end of March, Shekarchie reported a fund balance of nearly $2.5 million in his campaign account. His opponent, Traversie, reported a campaign balance of $148.
Ruggerio reported $166,445 in his account at the end of the first quarter. His opponent, Cioe listed $16.
The second quarter reporting period ends on the last day of June, but does not have to be reported to the Board of Elections until the end of July.
The next step for candidates is gathering signatures on nomination papers that can be picked up July 2 and must be returned to their local Boards of Canvassers by July 12. Representative candidates are required to collect 50 signatures, senators need to collect 100 signatures.
The deadline for the Boards of Canvassers and Board of Elections to certify signatures is July 18.
