“I realized that there are many elected officials, my [former] representative included, who ran on a Democratic platform, but did not really represent the Democratic values,” says Representative Michelle McGaw of her decision to run in 2020. “People have had enough of elected officials who ‘go along to get along’ and want representation that is […]
“If we reform the Senate Rules, then we can create a space where you don’t need a majority to govern; each member of the assembly has equal power to propose and vote on legislation,” says freshman State Senator Jonathon Acosta, who declined to support existing Senate leadership. “I’m committed to advocating for a more democratic […]
“I think the 2016 presidential election has a lot to do with people getting involved in their communities and learning more about local politics and leaders,” said State Senator Tiara Mack about the progressive wins in 2020. “When the spotlight was on local elected officials who had previously gone under the radar, the voters could […]
“What our campaign did was center our message on the needs of working families and the most vulnerable. And people saw that we weren’t in it for self-interest, or to be a part of the good ol’ boys’ club at the state house,” says Rep. David Morales about his victory in the polls last November. […]
“The pandemic had some crippling consequences; one of those consequences was that people were forced to see the shortcomings of their local and national government,” says State Representative Brianna Henries, describing the wave of progressive victories in the State House last year.Henries represents District 64 out of East Providence, an area that includes the city’s […]
“Rhode Islanders are now standing up, running for office and fighting for the values that we’ve always had.” This is what State Senator Sam Bell believes underlies the wave of progressive wins for GeneralAssembly seats we saw this year in Rhode Island – a wave that has threatened the power of Senate Leadership, what Bell […]
Art has always been an important tool of the environmental movement. For decades, music and imagery have been used to highlight the beauty of nature, to inspire concern and motivate the need for environmental protection. And more recently, groups like the Sunrise Movement and 350.org have used consistent, striking and recognizable art across all platforms […]
“I don’t have career goals in politics – I’m just doing this because I want better for people.” says State Senator-elect Kendra Anderson summing up her reasons for running for office. She has a background as an educator, a lifelong activist, and most recently the President of Climate Action RI. Anderson was elected last month […]
When asked why she supported Gayle Goldin for Senate President and Jeanine Calkin for Senate Majority Leader, Senator-elect Cynthia Mendes was straightforward: “A leadership that, one: does blatant and egregious power-grabs, and two: controls a Senate in a way that they cannot becritiqued or criticized or challenged, is a leadership that needs to go.”Mendes was […]
When I asked Senator-elect Jeanine Calkin (District 30, Warwick), a Bernie-crat who just won a second (non-consecutive) term, why she chose to challenge Michael McCaffrey for the role of Senate Majority Leader this year, her answer was simple: “I … wanted to help move legislationthat is widely supported by the people of RI, and not […]
