Rival Democratic candidates focused criticism on Aaron Regunberg during a televised debate Tuesday night, cementing the view that he is the front runner in the race for an open seat in Rhode Island’s First Congressional District, with one week to go until voters make their choice.
The debate was broadcast by WPRI-TV, Channel 12, live from Rhode Island College.
A string of candidates used moderators’ questions to turn the topic to Regunberg, although a singular moment to elevate or sink any of the featured Democrats seemed absent from the hour-long discussion.
Gabe Amo, a Pawtucket native who has worked in the White House, was asked about criticism by the Rhode Island Working Families Party, a progressive group backing Regunberg, that Amo has received campaign contributions from lobbyists representing what RIWFP called big pharma, big tobacco and big oil.
“I’m not going to take the lecturing from folks who are supporting a candidate who has a $125,000 contribution from his father-in-law to a super PAC,” Amo responded. “That is a red flag. That is a clear red flag especially because of the dishonesty that underlines it.”
Regunberg, an activist and former state rep from Providence, responded by saying his family has come under a lot of rhetorical attacks in recent weeks, “with some wild and pretty dishonest accusations. My in-laws made a — in their personal capacity — contribution to support someone they believe in, running on a platform they believe in; Medicare for All, Green New Deal and more. That’s very different than contributions from corporate lobbyists.”
Amo’s campaign last week released an internal poll showing him in second place in the CD1 Democratic race.
He criticized Regunberg for saying he would have voted against the most recent debt ceiling deal, asserting that amounts to being willing to take the country into “catastrophic default. That is saying that he knows better than Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, David Cicilline and Seth Magaziner.”
Regunberg suggested the criticism was disingenuous since, he said, congressional Republicans had the votes to pass the deal. “Given that,” Regunberg said, “a number of leading Democrats said we didn’t need to cheer for a Republican deal.” In a statement, Regunberg’s campaign said he has consistently said he wouldn’t vote to shut the government if his was the deciding vote.
Sen. Sandra Cano of Pawtucket pointed out that a recently filed Federal Elections Commission document listing Regunberg’s father-in-law did not indicate his occupation.
“That’s an accident,” Regunberg said. “We’ll correct that.”
Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos called the omission on the FEC form part of a pattern of deception by Regunberg. Another candidate, state Sen. Ana Quezada of Providence, charged that Regunberg has not fought for anything in his life — a dig at what critics call a thin professional resume — and asserted that she is more of a fighter.
Regunberg said Quezada’s remark was offensive.
He said he is proud to have been the founding executive director of a citywide nonprofit that advocates for Providence students. “I’ve worked as senior policy adviser for the City of Providence,” Regunberg added. “I’ve worked in our federal judicial courts and I’ve worked as a legislator, bringing people together, building coalitions to pass major progressive policy reform that’s impacted hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders.”
The debate, based on the criteria of WPRI’s parent company, featured eight of 11 remaining Democrats in CD1, including state Rep. Stephen Casey of Woonsocket, former Naval War College professor Walter Berbrick, and Providence City Councilor John Goncalves. One Democrat, Don Carlson, dropped out over the weekend after WPRI reported that he had broached a romantic relationship with a student while teaching at Williams College.
The winner of the Democratic primary on Sept. 5 will face the winner of the GOP primary in November, for the seat vacated earlier this year by David Cicilline, now president/CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.
The candidates generally agreed on many issues, but there were some differences.
While Casey called Medicare for All a failed concept, and Amo said he would invest more in the Affordable Care Act, the others backed Medicare for All and said they would support abolishing private health insurance.
All of the candidates supported a $24 billion aid package for Ukraine, although some called for more accountability on the spending.
Each Democrat except Berbrick and Casey backed 18-year terms for Supreme Court justices, although some called ethics regulations a greater need for the court.
Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org
