Rhode Island House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan, who placed second to Cranston Mayor Allan Fung in the September GOP primary for governor, has endorsed Republican-turned-independent Joe Trillo for the post.
“It is with truly great pleasure and honor that Patricia and I can once again join forces with the one mission of helping Rhode Islanders,” Trillo said in a statement. “This election presents a chance for real change and hope for all those who have felt lost and disenfranchised by the current administration. Together, Patricia and I will work tirelessly to ensure every Rhode Islander has a life-long home that they can truly prosper in.”
Trillo touted the endorsement in advance as news that would alter the race for governor. He indicated that further announcements are planned.
Yet Republicans, including state party Chairman Brandon Bell, criticized Trillo and Morgan for aiding Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo by not rallying behind Fung.
Trillo also said that former attorney general Arlene Violet, and former gubernatorial candidates Ken Block and John Robitaille, will work with him if he wins election in November.
Later in the day, the second-ranking Republican in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, Whip Blake Filippi of New Shoreham, used an email to announce that the GOP caucus in the chamber had immediately voted Morgan out as minority leader. A breakdown of the vote was not included.
“The Minority Leader post will remain vacant until after the 2018 General Election,” wrote Filippi, who is a leading contender to win the position.
A WPRI-TV/Roger Williams University poll released in late September showed Fung as the leader on the GOP side of the race for governor, with 36.2 of the support, compared with less than 7 percent for Trillo. Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo had the support of 43.1 percent of respondents.
This post has been updated.
