Politics & Elections
Election 2026 coverage
RI redistricting bill seeks to favor incumbents, give party leaders more control at voters' expense
"Want to see how democracy dies in the darkness?" asked Senator Jeanine Calkin on Twitter. "Check out page #173 (Section 9) of the redistricting bill where lawfully elected district committees are replaced with handpicked people selected by the entrenched party to get rid of progressives. This can not be allowed to pass."
Ed Pacheco is running for congress: The first interview
In an exclusive conversation UpriseRI and Ed Pacheco talk climate change, education, military spending, Medicare for All, reproductive rights, guns, jobs, economy, the local Democratic Party and the shape of Congress after the mid-terms.
Judge rules residents need not own property to vote in Bonnet Shores Fire District
“The Court cannot conceive of any circumstances in which the BSFD could permissibly use the property ownership requirement to prevent otherwise qualified residents from voting in BSFD elections," said Judge Taft-Carter. "Given the undisputed facts of this case, the unavoidable conclusion is that the BSFD Charter’s denial of district residents’ right to vote on the basis of property ownership is unconstitutional.”
Our interview with PVD City Council candidate Jackie Goldman
"Some people are dealing with extremely difficult circumstances that could be mitigated by a government that takes care of people. That sits deeply with me."
Seth Magaziner abandons race for governorship to run for Congress
“Every day, Republicans in Washington demonstrate they care more about doing Donald Trump’s bidding than they do about defending the constitution or delivering results for working families. It’s critical Rhode Island Democrats field a proven general election candidate who can prevent the Republicans from taking back this seat in Congress," said Magaziner.
Did Senator Archambault gerrymander land he owns into his Senate District?
Senator Stephen Archambault co-chaired the Redistricting Commission that made last minute changes to his district that may personally profit him.
Wealth, power, and whiteness still dominate representation in Woonsocket
"...at-large elections could result in the selection of five members from the same district with other school areas being overlooked as a result."
Providence commits to redistricting transparency in rebuff of state's back room deals
"The idea of eliminating, or at least avoiding one-on-one meetings with current elected officials or potential elected officials and the consultant is something that we should be doing. Those types of meetings create the appearance of impropriety - at the very least - and if we're talking about the hard earned trust this committee is trying to build with the community, that would undermine it."
2021 Overall Rankings and the Upcoming Session
Today we published our 2021 Overall Rankings. I know, it's 2022 and we just finished up with 2021 rankings. This past year, to save an enormous amount of time and eliminate any possibility of human error, we moved to a more automated sys...
RI Rank: Rhode Island's top legislators are both independent and accountable
It should surprise no one that legislators who have had to run against challengers are more responsive to the needs and wants of their community and less responsive to the needs and wants of leadership and lobbyists. A legislator who simply walks into the job unchallenged doesn't have to do the work of advocating for their voters. Instead they can focus on amassing gigantic campaign war chests.