RI Democratic Party doesn’t want to endorse Trump voter after all
The Rhode Island Democratic Party wants to take back two of four controversial legislative endorsements that lit a fire under the local progressive movement and drew the attention of national media. If successful, Michael Earnheart, a Trump voter challenging incumbent Rep. Moira Walsh, and Greg Accairdo, a former Johnston state Senator who has twice been arrested […]
RI Dems endorse incumbents in fractious state convention
Last night’s RI Democratic State committee meeting offered no surprises in the outcome — incumbent Governor Raimondo and Lt. Gov. McKee received expected endorsements — but the process of getting there provided moments of conflict that illuminated tensions within the Party. The convention of the more than 100 members of the state committee — city […]
RI Democrats could lose 4 superdelegates under proposed primary change
Rhode Island Democrats would lose 4 of their 9 superdelegates if the Democratic National Committee adopts the recommendation of its recently-adjourned Unity Reform Commission. If the DNC adopts the recommendation, the overall number of superdelegates would be reduced nationally by about 60 percent, said a DNC spokesperson who asked not to be identified by name. […]
Women’s Caucus calls for Delorenzo to be removed from party leadership
The Women’s Caucus of the Rhode Island Democratic Party is calling for embattled party leader Joe Delorenzo “to be immediately removed from his position as second vice chair of the RI Democratic State Committee,” the group said in a statement. Delorenzo took to AM radio earlier this week to disparage a female Democratic legislator who […]
Delorenzo dismisses Tanzi’s allegations of sexual harassment at State House
After a group of mostly female Democrats called on former state Representative Joe Delorenzo to resign from his post as Second Vice Chair of the state Democratic Party yesterday, Delorenzo took to the airwaves and belittled one of the letter writer’s allegations that she was sexually harassed at the State House, which came to light […]
Female lawmakers from across RI call for Delorenzo to resign post with Democrats
It might be time for Democratic Party official Joseph Delorenzo to resign, according to female lawmakers from across Rhode Island reacting to controversial remarks the Second Vice Chair made about the progressive wing of the party. “The RI Democratic Party believes in equality, values diversity, and is working to ensure economic security for all Rhode […]
Paolino and Delorenzo don’t represent the future of the Democratic Party
On Sunday at the Portuguese Club in Cranston there was the “annual” Rhode Island Democratic Party Meeting. I put “annual” in quotes because in 2015 there was no meeting at all. The catalyst for the meeting was the very untimely death of National Committeeman Frank Montanaro. The committee members were gathered to elect their new […]
RI Progressive Democrats call for new House Speaker
“We call upon the House to choose a new Speaker when they meet later this summer to finish their work, so that the budget negotiations can be handled by someone whose priority is to do that work, rather than to play power games.”
Powerful speakers help RISE UP! Rhode Island celebrate Women’s History Month
RISE UP! Rhode Island held a rally on Saturday to honor and celebrate Women’s History Month and the work of multiple human rights organizations in RI.
If you want change, don’t vote for the star
Why is our government so conservative? A big part of the problem is the structure of the state Democratic party and its cynical “endorsement” process…
RI legislators not returning illegal campaign donations
Despite the NRA paying a record fine for making illegal campaign donations to Rhode Island politicians, to date, not one current office holder in the state has seen fit to return the money. The National Rifle Association (NRA) was fined by the RI Board of Elections for funneling illegal donations to RI politicians, including House […]
Bernie Sanders tops RI primary signature count; supporters plan further events
Bernie Sanders supporters gathered 3451 official signatures, Hillary Clinton supporters, backed by the RI Democratic Party, gathered only 1802. On the Republican side Trump supporters gathered 3110 signatures, followed by 2902 for Jeb Bush, who has already dropped out of the race.
Progressive dissatisfaction and the Democratic primary
In the last few years the General Assembly has passed legislation that slashed pensions, cut taxes on the wealthiest Rhode Islanders, recklessly combined the State’s boards of education, and instituted a discriminatory and unnecessary Voter ID law. And, of course, all while under the auspices of the Democratic Party. It’s no secret then, that progressives […]
The 2010 Election Revisited: Attorney General Results (Part 12 of MMP RI)
The problem with the gubernatorial results is the massive amount of independent votes that have to be thrown out. Luckily, the AG race offers a more typically Rhode Island affair, though a large amount of independent votes are tossed, but only about equal to what the Moderate Party candidate earned. That Moderate candidate is the […]
2010 election revisited: gubernatorial results (Part 11 of MMP RI)
Because of the problem with the districts, let’s take a step back and look at the 2010 election again. The 2010 election is unique, because it features two statewide races with Moderate Party candidates. The first race, the gubernatorial election, is atypical. It features a well-known independent and a weak Democrat combined with this third […]
The election of 2012 (Part 9 of MMP RI)
Nationally, Barack Obama was campaigning for a second term. Democrats were convinced they would win, while Republicans were convinced they would win. While Rhode Island was a sure thing, the chance to vote for President increased turnout to historic proportions. This was bad news for the Republicans and Moderates in the General Assembly. Democratic voters […]
The election of 2010 (Part 8 of MMP RI)
President Obama’s first term had devolved into the massive bungling of the Affordable Care Act. Republican intransigence in Washington combined with Obama’s refusal to stake out positions for his healthcare reform left Democratic partisans confused and disheartened. Meanwhile, Republicans were rallying against any change, and they had fired themselves up into a new movement, the […]
The election of 2008 (Part 7 of MMP RI)
The 2008 election promised more bad news for the Republicans. Their nominee for President, US Sen. John McCain of Arizona, wasn’t particularly well-liked by his party’s base. While attempting to shed his “maverick” image (while at the same time attempting to play it up), McCain stumbled badly by adding half-term Gov. Sarah Palin to the […]
The election of 2006 (Part 6 of MMP RI)
Nationally, the Bush Administration’s bungling of immigration reform and the ongoing failure to end the Iraq War (while the falsification of the cause for war was becoming apparent) had made the Republican Party toxic. At the same time, Howard Dean’s chairmanship of the Democratic Party began institutionalizing data collection for the party via NGP VAN. […]
The election of 2004 (Part 5 of MMP RI)
Turnout was expected to be high in a presidential election year. The Iraq War, which had seen a nation toppled in less than a month, was entering a bloody phase. In April, the US Marines had been defeated at Fallujah, almost exactly a year after President Bush had declared “Mission Accomplished” aboard the USS Abraham […]