With the primary election less than three weeks away, candidates, mostly Democrats, are sprinting to the finish line. Competitive Democratic primaries are being hotly contested for governor, second Congressional district, lieutenant governor, and general treasurer. And lots of money is being spent on television ads, trying to convince you – the voters – of the […]
Election 2022
Posted inNews
What to watch in Wis., 3 other states in Tuesday’s primaries
By MEG KINNARD Associated Press The Republican matchup in the Wisconsin governor’s race on Tuesday features competing candidates endorsed by former President Donald Trump and his estranged vice president, Mike Pence. Democrats are picking a candidate to face two-term GOP Sen. Ron Johnson for control of the closely divided chamber. Meanwhile, voters in Vermont are choosing a replacement for U.S. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Mark Aramli shares why he is running as a candidate for Newport City Council At-Large
Mark Aramli is among seven candidates running for one of the four At-Large seats on Newport City Council. The group includes two incumbents and five “newcomers”, which includes Incumbent Lynn Ceglie, Incumbent Jeanne Marie Napolitano, Eames Yates, Stephanie Smyth, Mark D. Aramli, Katherine Jessup, and Xaykham Rexford Khamsyvoravng Aramli provided What’sUpNewp with the following statement […]
Posted inCity & Government
Gubernatorial candidates report finances as campaigns enter final stretch
Spin. It’s all how you discuss the second quarter financial reporting to the Board of Elections, the final quarterly report before the general election. For some, it’s the end balance they highlight, for others, it’s the total amount raised, and for others it’s about criticizing where opponents, or potential opponents’ funds are coming from. Bottom […]
Posted inNews
Morgenthau, Segal qualify for Congressional race, Munoz for governor
The fields have once again expanded for governor and U.S. House of Representatives, as the Secretary of State’s election website continues to update postings for the number of signatures collected by candidates for offices across the state. Two candidates for the second Congressional district – Sarah Morganthau and David Segal — who appeared shy of […]
Posted inNews
Susan Taylor withdraws from Newport City Council At-Large race
Susan Taylor officially withdrew her candidacy today for a Newport City Council At-Large position. Taylor, who served on Newport City Council from 2016 to 2020, was among the ten original candidates to declare their candidacy for one the four seats on Newport City Council At-Large seat at the end of June. On July 19, Taylor […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Democratic City Committee endorses candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, and other statewide seats
The Newport Democratic City Committee (NDCC) voted on Monday, July 11th to endorse candidates in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island’s 2022 statewide races. “Primary endorsements are an inherently difficult endeavor to take on. We are all Democrats first and foremost and, when all is said and done, we will unite around the Democratic candidate […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: Magaziner supports windfall oil company profits tax, Gorbea’s new tv ad and UFCW endorsement, Middletown candidate drops out
Magaziner supports Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax General Treasurer and congressional candidate Seth Magaziner said he’s supporting legislation that would tax excess profits of the big oil companies and distributing the proceeds back to consumers. Magaziner also called on his Republican opponent, Allan Fung, to join him in supporting this measure. “In the first three […]
Posted inPolitics
Lawrence Frank withdraws from Middletown Town Council race
By Matt Sheley, Town of Middletown There’s now one less candidate vying for Middletown Town Council. On Thursday morning, Lawrence Frank submitted a letter to the office of the Board of Canvassers, announcing he was withdrawing his name from the race. No reason was cited in the one-page memo. “This letter is to inform you […]
Posted inNews
Nearly 20 percent of RI House candidates running unopposed
Nearly 20 percent of the candidates who filed to run for the state House of Representatives are running unopposed, according to the Secretary of State’s Office, with all but one a Democrat. In the state Senate, only two candidates are running unopposed, one Democrat and one Republican. Political parties had the option to appoint candidates […]
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: Safer, more convenient elections
Elections in 2020 were unlike anything Rhode Island voters had experienced before. In response to the pandemic, state leaders put in place common-sense measures to ensure that COVID-19 didn’t keep us and our neighbors from exercising our most basic right to vote. People liked these options, and with June 2022’s enactment of the RI Vote […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: Poll: Tight race for Democrat gubernatorial nomination; Magaziner has big lead in race for Congress 2 nomination; candidates, GOP react
Poll Results A WPRI TV/Roger Williams University Poll, completed a few days ago, showed a tight race for the Democratic nomination for governor, while in the Second Congressional District, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner holds a wide lead. In both races, there are a large number of potential voters who said they are undecided. The poll […]
Posted inNews
Candidate facing menacing charge exits congressional race
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island congressional candidate recently arrested on a menacing charge in Ohio has dropped out of the race. Michael Neary said in a statement Friday he was seeking medical treatment for non-epileptic seizures following his arrest in Ohio in March. He said the decision followed “careful consultation and prayer.” Neary, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: Kalus accuses “insiders” of bribing businesses to come to RI; Gorbea endorsed by Steelworks’ union
GOP gubernatorial candidate says RI bribing “businesses to come here” Republican gubernatorial candidate Ashley Kalus, in an email to potential contributors, has accused “insiders” of bribing businesses to come to Rhode Island. “Rhode Island isn’t meeting its potential,” she said in the letter. “We’re lagging behind when we should be leading. “That’s because the insiders […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: GOP has a Treasurer candidate; Magaziner wins another union endorsement
No. Kingstown Finance Director running for Treasurer North Kingstown Finance Director James Lathrop of Wakefield, is expected to announce his candidacy for Rhode Island General Treasurer late this month, according to an email distributed by the Rhode Island Republican Party. Lathrop, a CPA, also filed his papers with the state Board of Elections establishing his […]
Posted inCity & Government
Aquidneck legislators report first-quarter finances
State Rep. Marvin Abney, D-Dist. 73 (Middletown, Newport), chair of the state House of Representatives Finance Committee, had the most robust campaign fund among Aquidneck Island’s state legislative delegation. Abney reported a fund balance of $186,806 as of March 31, according to his first-quarter campaign finance report. Abney, who had been mentioned as a potential […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: Gubernatorial poll, Fung announces, unions weigh in on Fung candidacy
Gorbea: Poll has her leading in Dem. Governor race Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Nellie Gorbea’s campaign today released a poll memo that they say shows Gorbea leading in the Democratic race for governor. According to the campaign, Gorbea leads the crowded Democratic gubernatorial field with 30 percent. McKee placed second with 24 […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: Senate passes voter act, GOP critical; women in support of Magaziner; DaSilva running again for EP mayor
Secretary of State Gorbea praises Senate passage of Let RI Vote Act Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Nellie M. Gorbea today praised the state Senate’s passage of the Let RI Vote Act. “The act of casting a ballot is foundational to our democracy,” Gorbea said. “At a time when we see states working to restrict voting […]
Posted inCity & Government
Former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung seeks congressional seat
EAST GREENWICH, R.I. (AP) — Former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung officially launched his campaign Tuesday for the state’s seat in Congress being vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin. Fung, a two-time Republican gubernatorial candidate in Rhode Island, said he’d help end hyper-partisan politics as part of a “new wave of leaders” laser-focused on solving […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
De la Cruz drops out of Rhode Island congressional race
BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (AP) — Republican state Sen. Jessica de la Cruz has ended her bid for Congress just about a month after formally launching her campaign. “While I was encouraged by the strong grassroots support my campaign received, right now, the best place for me to fight for Rhode Islanders is in the state Senate,” […]
Posted inNews
Watch: Rep. Deborah Ruggiero joins What’sUpNewp to talk about her campaign for Lt. Governor
State Rep. Deb Ruggiero, who announced last week that she was running for lieutenant governor, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation today at 1:30 pm. Ruggiero, who represents District 74 (Jamestown and Middletown), is aligned with the House leadership. She’ll face incumbent Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos and State Sen. Cynthia Mendes in a Democratic […]
Posted inCity & Government
Alex Finkelman announces candidacy for State Representative in District 74 (Jamestown, Middletown)
Jamestown resident Alex Finkelman today announced his candidacy for State Representative in District 74, seeking to represent Jamestown and parts of Middletown. In a press release, Finkelman touted his small business, insurance, and finance background and cited environmental protection, improving education, and bolstering our economy as the issues he will most focus on. State Rep. […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Lt. Governor candidate State Rep. Ruggiero joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation
State Rep. Deb Ruggiero, who announced last week that she was running for lieutenant governor, joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Monday at 1 p.m. Note – This conversation has been moved to 1:30 pm on Wednesday, April 13. Ruggiero, who represents District 74 (Jamestown and Middletown), is aligned with the House […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Election 2022: Cicilline backs union drive, praises Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson; Magaziner, McKee add electrifying endorsements
Cicilline supporting union drive at Starbucks U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, who is running for reelection in the first district, tweeted his support for workers at a Warwick Starbucks that have joined the wave of unionization efforts at the upscale coffee shop chain. “Union built the middle class, and they’re going to help us build a […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: Kalus enters gubernatorial race; Pacheco exits congressional race; Diossa names campaign manager
GOP has a gubernatorial candidate – Ashley Kalus Ashley Kalus, a transplant from Illinois, as expected officially kicked off her campaign today to become the Republican nominee for governor. Kalus, 39, who moved to Newport less than a year ago and registered to vote in Rhode Island in January, promised to “run a campaign of […]