About one-third of 113 General Assembly seats may go uncontested in fall elections.
Preliminary data from the Secretary of State’s office shows that 21 state representatives and 13 state senators will not face opponents for re-election. The House of Representatives has 75 members (there’s been a vacancy since the resignation of former Finance chairman Ray Gallison), and the state Senate has 38 members.
House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, House Majority Leader John DeSimone, Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, and Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio are each poised to face an opponent in their legislative districts.
Mattiello will face independent Patrick Vallier, and one of two Republicans, Steven Frias or Shawna Lawton. DeSimone is being challenged by Republican Roland Joseph Lavallee and Democrat Marcia Ranglin-Vassell. Paiva Weed faces independent Sav Rebecchi, while Ruggerio is being taken on by independent Matthew Dowd.
Meanwhile, Rep. John Carnevale (D-Providence), who faces the fallout from residency probes by the State Police and the Providence Board of Canvassers, has five Democratic opponents: Ramon Perez, Lisa Scorpio, Anthony DeFilippo, Joshua Beeman, and David Marshall.
Legislative elections are held every two years, with primaries in September, and the general election in November.
The latest filings did not include two GOP reps, Patricia Morgan of West Warwick and Justin Price of Richmond, although they are expected to be seeking re-election. Final filings from the Secretary of State’s office are expected Thursday.
The state reps who lack opponents thus far are: Ray Hull (D-Providence); John Lombardi (D-Providence); Scott Slater (D-Providence); Charlene Lima (D-Cranston); Robert Jacquard (D-Cranston); Joseph Shekarchi (D-Warwick); Anthony Giarrusso (R-East Greenwich); Samuel Azzinaro (D-Westerly); Stephen Ucci (D-Johnston); Gregory Costantino (D-Lincoln); Brian Newberry (R-North Smithfield); Michael Morin (D-Woonsocket); Stephen Casey (D-Woonsocket); Robert Phillips (D-Woonsocket); Arthur Corvese (D-North Providence); Shelby Maldonado (D-Central Falls); James McLaughlin (D-Cumberland); Mary Duffy Messier (D-Pawtucket); Gregg Amore (D-East Providence); Joy Hearn (D-Barrington); and Marvin Abney (D-Newport).
Senators lacking opponents so far are: Maryellen Goodwin (D-Providence); Gayle Goldin (D-Providence); Paul Jabour (D-Providence); Adam Satchell (D-West Warwick); Daniel DaPonte (D-East Providence); Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket); William Conley (D-East Providence); Roger Picard (D-Woonsocket); Marc Cote (D-Woonsocket); Frank Lombardi (D-Cranston); Erin Lynch Prata (D-Warwick); James Sheehan (D-North Kingstown); and Dennis Algiere (R-Westerly).
