General Assembly incumbents won each of their races in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, as Republicans picked up one open seat in Tuesday’s election. Incumbents also enjoyed broad success in elections for Rhode Island Senate, although the GOP presence there could drop by one member. When the House starts its new session in January, […]
Ian Donnis
One of the state’s top political reporters, Ian Donnis joined The Public’s Radio in 2009. Ian has reported on Rhode Island politics since 1999, arriving in the state just two weeks before the FBI raided City Hall and Buddy Cianci’s East Side home. Ian covers breaking news, develops in-depth features and investigative reports, and welcomes a range of newsmakers to “Political Roundtable” each week. He also writes our Friday political newsletter and maintains a strong social media presence.
For many years, Ian was a panelist on WPRI-TV’s Sunday morning public affairs show, Newsmakers, and he’s a regular guest on A Lively Experiment on Rhode Island PBS. His previous experience includes serving as news editor of The Providence Phoenix and as a reporter for the Associated Press and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. He has a BS in journalism from Boston University.
Outside of work, Ian enjoys baseball, cooking, and exploring Rhode Island.
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Nov. 1, 2024
It’s weeks like this when you think about all the political grist to be sent up if only the Providence Newspaper Guild Follies was still a thing. Welcome back to my weekly column. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
A rare Republican winning streak is on the line in Cranston mayoral race
On a recent weekday afternoon, Democrat Robert Ferri made his way on foot through a residential neighborhood near Garden City, dropping campaign fliers in mail boxes and looking for voters to talk about his run for mayor of Cranston. “Hi, how are you?” he asked a woman answering her door. “Good,” she responded in a […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
How a Trump election would affect R.I., why legislative incumbents maintain an edge, and more
Americans will finish voting Tuesday, although it remains unclear when a winner will be declared in the presidential race. It’s a more low-key election in Rhode Island, where the race for mayor of Cranston is among the top races. But a close vote is expected on ballot Question 1, which could set the stage for Rhode Island to hold its first constitutional convention since 1986. And next week’s election is a prelude to 2026, when Rhode Islanders will vote for governor and other statewide offices. So what do the current political headwinds mean for Governor Dan McKee? How would a Trump administration affect Rhode Island? And even if the state does stage a constitutional convention, would it make a real difference? This week on Political Roundtable, we have an in-depth election preview with two fellow political reporters, senior reporter with the Rhode Island Current Nancy Lavin and politics editor for WPRI-TV, Channel 12, Ted Nesi.
Posted inLocal, Politics
McKee denies wrongdoing in award of ILO Group contract
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee on Thursday denied any wrongdoing in connection with the award of a lucrative contract to a politically connected firm, and he said Attorney General Peter Neronha should have recused himself from the case because of his support for McKee rival Helena Foulkes. McKee spoke with reporters a day after Neronha […]
Posted inEducation, Local, Politics
Neronha finds McKee directed ILO Group contract in a manipulated process
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee directed a $5.2 million federally funded state contract to a company formed for that purpose, although there’s insufficient evidence to bring a charge in the case, according to findings released Tuesday by Attorney General Peter Neronha. A legal memo and related documents from Neronha mark the end of a three-year […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Oct. 25, 2024
The bumper crop of autumnal acorns could be used as fill to inch out the borders of the Ocean State. Welcome to the return of my weekly column. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
Gregg Amore on declining confidence in elections, Trump, and what’s next for a state archive
Americans’ confidence in elections has been shaken in recent years — at least for *some*. Donald Trump’s false narrative about a stolen election in 2020 has led many of his supporters to doubt the integrity of the process. That’s despite evidence given by elections officials and even some members of Trump’s administration that the vote was free and fair. With a looming climax to the tight presidential race, the issue of election integrity is likely to surge front and center in the weeks ahead. As Rhode Island’s chief elections officer, Secretary of State Gregg Amore is on the frontlines of questions involving voting rights and fair elections. So what is he expecting? How should we combat lies and misinformation about elections? And if one man can popularize a phony narrative about the democratic process, what would it mean if that person regains the White House? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore.
Posted inLocal, Politics
Pearson urging fellow RI senators to keep him as majority leader
After losing the support of Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, Senate Majority Leader Ryan Pearson is trying to rally backing from fellow senators to keep him in the chamber’s second-ranking post. Pearson did not respond when asked to identify his level of support from fellow senators. But the Cumberland Democrat reiterated his view that health challenges […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
The presidential race and its stakes discussed during ‘The Public’s Voice’
With less than three weeks until the end of voting, the presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is racing toward a dramatic conclusion. The outcome – along with how the election affects control of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives – will have far-reaching effects for years to come. Back […]
