RIPDA announces legislative endorsements

• Edie Ajello, Providence, House District 1
• Joe Almeida, Providence, House District 12
• Dave Bennett, Warwick, House District 20
• Lauren Carson, Newport, House District 75
• Maria Cimini, Providence, House District 7
• Cathie Cool Rumsey, Charlestown, Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter, West Greenwich, Senate District 34
• Doris De Los Santos, Providence, N. Providence, Senate District 7
• Dave Fasteson, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston, Senate District 22
• Linda Finn, Middletown, Portsmouth, House District 72
• Gayle Goldin, Providence, Senate District 3
• Shelby Maldonado, Central Falls, House District 56
• Margaux Morisseau, Coventry, Foster, Scituate, West Greenwich, Senate District 21
• Aaron Regunberg, Providence, House District 4
• Adam Satchell, West Warwick, Senate District 9
• Jennifer Siciliano, Warwick, House District 22 (Frank Ferri’s seat)
• Teresa Tanzi, Narragansett, Peacedale, Wakefield, House District 34
• Larry Valencia, Richmond, Exeter, Hopkington, House District 39

Being a real Democrat in the General Assembly is not easy. The Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate both oppose a woman’s right to choose and received endorsements from Right to Life last election cycle. In 2012, they also both received endorsements from the NRA, who gave them A ratings and thousands of dollars of illegal campaign contributions over the course of their careers. Both of them are staunchly opposed to repealing the 2006 income tax cuts for the rich. On far too many core issues, the leadership of the General Assembly Democrats sides with the national Republican Party over the national Democratic Party. But the candidates we have endorsed fight for true Democratic Party values.

The battle between the two wings of the Rhode Island Democratic Party is often characterized as part of the national battle between the progressive wing and the Wall Street wing. We do not see it that way. The issues that divide the Democrats in the General Assembly—issues like reproductive rights, gun safety, and tax fairness—are issues where the national party is united.

When choosing endorsements, we looked for real Democrats who stand with the national Democratic Party on most core values. A few of our endorsees might not be considered particularly liberal in other states, but each one is a real Democrat. We are proud to support them in the battle to return our state to the basic Democratic Party values Rhode Islanders support so strongly.

Following these principles, we have chosen the following seventeen real Democrats, most of them facing competitive races, for our endorsement: