Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Rhode Island Democratic Party

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Chairperson
  
Joseph McNamara

National affiliation
  
Democratic Party

Seats in the Upper House
  
32 / 38

Headquarters
  
Warwick, RI

Colors
  
Blue

Ideology
  
Social democracy Modern liberalism Progressivism Social liberalism

The Rhode Island Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the state of Rhode Island. Joseph McNamara is the chairman of the Party. For the past five decades, the Democratic Party has dominated politics in Rhode Island. The article further discusses the Democratic Party's dominance in Rhode Island politics as well as the elected officials, party leadership and staff, past election results, legislation, and also issue stance.

Contents

Democratic Party dominance in Rhode Island

For nearly five decades, Rhode Island has been one of the nation's most solidly Democratic states. Since 1928, it has voted for the Republican presidential candidate only four times (Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956, Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1984) and it has elected only one Republican (former Governor John H. Chafee) to the U.S. Senate since 1934. Rhode Island also sent no Republicans to the U.S. House from 1940 until 1980, when one Republican and one Democrat were elected. Also in 1980, Rhode Island was one of only six states to favor Jimmy Carter. However, in 1984, Republican Edward DiPrete was elected governor and Ronald Reagan narrowly carried the state in the presidential election. In the 2000 presidential election, Democrat Al Gore won 61% of the popular vote. Although, an analysis of Gallup polling data shows the Democratic advantage over the Republican Party in Rhode Island voters has plunged over the last two years. The Democratic advantage over the Republican Party in Rhode Island slid from 37 percentage points in 2008 to 16 points this year, according to Gallup. Rhode Island has gone from being the most Democratic state in the country in 2008 to the 7th most Democratic now.

U.S. Senate

  • Jack Reed
  • Sheldon Whitehouse
  • U.S. House of Representatives

  • RI-01: David Cicilline
  • RI-02: James Langevin
  • Statewide offices

  • Governor: Gina Raimondo
  • Lieutenant Governor: Daniel McKee
  • Secretary of State: Nellie Gorbea
  • Attorney General: Peter Kilmartin
  • General Treasurer: Seth Magaziner
  • State Legislature

  • President of the Senate: M. Teresa Paiva-Weed
  • Senate Majority Leader: Dominick J. Ruggerio
  • Speaker of the House: Nicholas Mattiello
  • House Majority Leader: Joseph Shekarchi
  • Party leadership and staff

    The Rhode Island Democratic Party leadership as of 2016 is as follows.

    State committee officers

  • Chairman: Joseph McNamara
  • Vice Chairman: Rep. Grace Diaz
  • 2nd Vice Chairman: Joseph DeLorenzo
  • 3rd Vice Chairman: Lisa Tomasso
  • Secretary: Rep. Arthur Corvese
  • Corresponding Secretary: Allene Maynard
  • Recording Secretary: Milton Bronstein
  • Treasurer: Jeff Padwa
  • Assistant Treasurer: Marcia Reback
  • National Committee Persons

  • National Committeeman: Frank Montanaro Sr.
  • National Committeewomen: Edna O'Neill Mattson
  • Staff

  • Executive Director:
  • Communications Director: Ann S. Gooding
  • R.I. Dem Party Finance: Susann Della Rosa
  • Previous election results

    2016 General Election http://wpri.com/election-results/

    President

    Hillary Clinton (D) 227,062 54% vote

    Donald Trump (R) 166,454 39% vote

    Representative in Congress District 1

  • David N. Cicilline (Dem) 64%
  • Russell Taub (Rep.) 36%
  • Representative in Congress District 2

  • James R. Langevin (Dem) 58%
  • Rhue Reis (Rep) 31%
  • U.S. Senator

  • John F. Reed (D) 223,675 70.6%
  • Mark S. Zaccaria (R) 92,684 29.2 %
  • Write-In 539 0.2 %
  • Representative in Congress District 1

  • David N. Cicilline (D) 87,060 59.5%
  • Cormick B. Lynch (R) 58,877 40.2%
  • Write-In 416 0.3%
  • Representative in Congress District 2

  • James R. Langevin (D) 105,716 62.2%'
  • Rhue R. Reis (R) 63,844 37.6%
  • Write-In 344 0.2%
  • President

  • Barack Obama (Dem) 63.1%
  • John McCain (Rep) 35.2%
  • Senator in Congress

  • John F. Reed (Dem) 73.4%
  • Robert G. Tingle (Rep) 26.6%
  • Representative in Congress District 1

  • Patrick J. Kennedy (Dem) 68.6%
  • Jonathon P. Scott (Rep) 24.3%
  • Representative in Congress District 2

  • James R. Langevin (Dem) 70.1%
  • Mark S. Zaccaria (Rep) 29.9%
  • President

  • John F. Kerry (Dem) 59.4%
  • George W. Bush (Rep) 38.6%
  • Representative in Congress District 1

  • Patrick J. Kennedy (Dem) 64.1%
  • David W. Rogers (Rep) 35.8%
  • Representative in Congress District 2

  • James R. Langevin (Dem) 74.5%
  • Arthur Chuck Barton III (Rep) 20.8%
  • Same-sex marriage

    On March 24, 2011, former Rhode Island Democratic Party Chairman Ed Pacheco issued the following statement reiterating his support of same-sex marriage in the State of Rhode Island:

    "I have always felt, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, that all Americans are entitled to the full protection, benefits and resources of marriage under law. More so than that, all couples who choose to enter into the union of marriage, deserve to honor their love and commitment to each other, to their families and to the communities in which they live with the full institution and benefits of marriage.
    "To deny any individual the rights and privileges of marriage based on their sexual orientation is to deny them the dignity, fairness and freedom to live their lives fully and free from anxiety – anxiety that can be avoided by ensuring marriage equality in Rhode Island. Anything less is less than equal. We take great pride in the protection of freedoms in this country and it is time for Rhode Island to stand up for our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family in the LGBT community and pass marriage equality legislation. It's just time."

    References

    Rhode Island Democratic Party Wikipedia