Ruggerio, a 75-year-old North Providence Democrat, has held his seat since 1984, making him the “dean” of the Senate as the chamber’s most senior member. Attention has been focused on his re-election bid this year because Ruggerio has been battling cancer, a case of shingles, and other health problems that forced him to miss portions of the legislative session.
In a statement, Ruggerio thanked his supporters and explained his absence from a victory celebration at the Knights of Columbus on Douglas Avenue in North Providence.
“I recently had a procedure that successfully addressed complications from the shingles virus, and I am presently at home recuperating,” he said. “While the surgery was successful and I am feeling better every day, I have been advised by my doctors to stay out of crowded spaces for the time being.”
Ruggerio, who plans to run for Senate president again, said, “I will continue working to forcefully represent their concerns at the State House and to deliver results that benefit all Rhode Island residents.”
Rhode Island Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, left, speaks with Senator Jake Bissaillon prior to a Senate session earlier this year.Edward Fitzpatrick
Cioe, a registered nurse who lost primary challenges to Ruggerio in 2020 and 2022, zeroed in on Ruggerio’s absence, calling for him “pass the torch like Joe Biden.” He said District 4 residents “demand and deserve responsive, accountable and professional representation up at the State House.”
Ruggerio blasted Cioe for taking a “cheap shot” at him, saying that he remained “deeply involved” in Senate business even as he dealt with medical issues during the last legislative session. He received support from a wide range of senators, including Senator Tiara Mack, a Providence progressive.
In the homestretch, Ruggerio spent $21,323, leaving him with $203,571 in campaign cash, while Cioe spent $362, leaving him with $5,498 in campaign cash.
This year, 52 percent of Assembly seats will go uncontested thanks to a sharp drop in Democratic primaries and Republican candidates. The incumbents without opposition include House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat.
Senate District 28
The largest field in this year’s Assembly primaries involved the five Democrats vying for Senate that Joshua Miller is vacating after 18 years in office.
With all polling places reporting, Cranston City Council vice president Lammis Vargas had 35.8 percent of the vote, leading Rhode Island Conservation Law Foundation vice president Darrèll Brown at 31.8 percent, Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence executive director Melissa Carden at 20 percent, Providence College systems analyst John F. Croke Jr., at 9.3 percent, and Crossroads Rhode Island senior director of education, employment and training Bernice Morris at 3.1 percent.
“The voters of Cranston and Providence have put their faith in my strong track record and leadership experience to deliver results and continue fighting for District 28,” Vargas said. “This was a close primary race amongst five stellar candidates, and I am grateful to them, as well as the voters who turned out to the polls, and the unions and elected officials who put their support behind my candidacy.”
Miller, a Cranston Democrat, championed recreational marijuana legalization and gun control legislation, but during his current term also admitted to charges of keying a car with an anti-Biden bumper sticker. No Republican is running in Senate District 28, which includes Cranston’s liberal Edgewood neighborhood and part of Providence.
Senate District 29
In a Democratic primary, former police officer Peter A. Appollonio Jr. topped Jennifer T. Rourke, co-founder of the progressive Rhode Island Political Cooperative. With all polling places reporting, Appollonio had 61.1 percent while Rourke had 38.9 percent.
Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey, a Warwick Democrat, held this seat for 28 years before stepping down in 2022. During an abortion rights rally that year, Rourke was punched by her Republican opponent at the time, off-duty police officer Jeann Lugo, who was later acquitted of an assault charge. She won that year’s Democratic primary but lost the general election to Representative Anthony P. DeLuca II, a Warwick Republican.
Appollonio spent 24 years in the West Warwick Police Department, rising to the rank of captain and retiring in 2017. He has been working as a substitute teacher in Warwick. He will face DeLuca in the Nov. 5 general election.
House District 9
Representative Enrique Sanchez, a Providence Democrat, coasted to victory in a primary rematch against former House Labor Committee chairwoman Anastacia P. Williams, who had been in office for nearly 30 years before Sanchez ousted her. With all polling places reporting, Sanchez had 52.5 percent of the vote, while Santos Javier had 27.1 percent and Williams had 20.4 percent.
The campaign has been marked by a litany of accusations involving alleged ethics violations, stolen yard signs, and mail ballot tampering. No Republican is running in this solidly blue district of Providence.
House District 11
House Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Grace Diaz, a Providence Democrat, withstood a primary challenge from Tania Quezada. With all polling places reporting, Diaz had 61.5 percent to 38.5 percent for Quezada.
Diaz, a native of the Dominican Republic, was first elected in 2004, and she is a member of the powerful House Finance Committee. No Republican is running in this solidly blue district of Providence.
House District 14
Representative Charlene M. Lima won re-election in a House District 14 Democratic primary, receiving 56.7 percent of the vote to beat Giona A. Picheco, who had 43.3 percent. No Republican is running in this district.
Picheco would have been the first transgender candidate to be elected to the General Assembly. Lima, a Cranston Democrat who was removed as deputy House speaker, also beat Picheco in the 2022 election.
House District 16
Representative Brandon C. Potter, a Cranston Democrat, had no problem beating back a Democratic primary challenge from Joseph R. Graziano, who works in the secretary of state’s office as a senior public information specialist. Potter received 76.3 percent of the vote to Graziano’s 23.7 percent.
Potter has said he believes he faced a primary because he was an outspoken opponent of the online legislation championed by Ruggerio. A spokesman for Ruggerio called that allegation “petty nonsense.” Graziano said Ruggerio did not recruit him but he hoped to win Ruggerio’s support.
Potter will face Republican Deborah J. Leong, vice chair of the Rhode Island Federation of Republican Women and former president of the Rhode Island Association of Chinese Americans.
House District 37
Representative Samuel Azzinaro, a Westerly Democrat, won a primary challenge against progressive Jonathan Daly-LaBelle, taking 64.7 percent to 35.3 percent. No Republican is running in the district.
House District 42
In another close primary, Kelsey Coletta lead Representative Edward T. Cardillo Jr., a Johnston Democrat, by 31 votes. With all polling places reporting, Coletta had 42.5 percent of the vote, leading Cardillo with 40 percent and his nephew, Dennis Cardillo Jr., who had 17.5 percent.
In a state with few degrees of separation, not only are the Cardillo candidates related, but Coletta is the daughter of House Majority Floor Leader John G. “Jay” Edwards, a Tiverton Democrat. The progressive Working Families Party backed Coletta against the more conservative Cardillo.
The winner will face Republican Richard Rawdon Fascia in the Nov. 5 general election.
House District 58
Representative Cherie L. Cruz, a Pawtucket Democrat, won a primary challenge from Elizabeth Moreira, 60.9 percent to 39.1 percent. The Rhode Island Working Families Party backed Cruz, but Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien’s political machine backed Moreira. No Republican is running in the district.
Democratic US Senate primary
US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse coasted to victory in a Democratic primary against Michael J. Costa, a Bristol who briefly ran for governor as a Republican in 2022. With all polling places reporting, Whitehouse had 83.8 percent of the vote to Costa’s 16.2 percent.
“I work hard every single day on behalf of all Rhode Islanders, and I am honored and grateful to have their overwhelming support today,” Whitehouse said in a statement. “We are heading into November with a strong Democratic ticket, from Vice President Harris on down the ballot.”
Whitehouse had $3.6 million in his campaign account as of Aug. 21, according to the Federal Election Commission, while Costa loaned his campaign $200,000, bringing his campaign cash receipts to $237,000.
Republican US Senate primary
State Representative Patricia L. Morgan, of West Warwick, beat Raymond T. McKay, a Warwick, in a GOP primary. With all polling places reporting, Morgan had 64.5 percent of the vote to 35.5 percent for McKay.
Morgan raised $238,278 and had $144,625 in campaign cash as of Aug. 21, while McKay had raised $148,371 and had $17,803 in campaign cash, according to the Federal Election Commission. Morgan will face Whitehouse in the Nov. 5 general election.
Woonsocket mayoral primary
In Woonsocket’s nonpartisan mayoral primary, City Council President John Ward and Mayor Christopher A. Beauchamp advanced to the Nov. 5 general election. Ward received 54.7 percent of the vote, while Beauchamp received 39.6 percent and Keith Harrison finished in a distant third with 5.7 percent.
In November 2023, Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt abruptly resigned days after the City Council launched an investigation into a land deal she made with a former business associate. She cited “health concerns” as the reason for her sudden departure.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @FitzProv.
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Publish date : 2024-09-10 14:16:00
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