The Hottest General Assembly Races
Saturday, October 16, 2010
What are the hottest General Assembly races? Where are the biggest battles for the state House and Senate? GoLocalProv asked Democratic and Republican party insiders for their take. Here is what they told us.
HOUSE
North Kingstown, District 31 – Tea Party Leader Running This race could potentially put a Tea Party leader – Republican Doreen Costa – in the House. Costa has reamed out her Democratic opponent, Kenneth Carter, for refusing to debate her. “I think a lot of Democrats are doing that. We hear that they don’t want to debate,” said state GOP chairman Giovanni Cicione. “Voters are so angry that when incumbents show up at a debate they feel under fire—as they should.”
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Lincoln and Pawtucket, District 46 – Write-In Candidate Could Win Mary Ann Shallcross Smith is one of three Democrats whom the unions took out in the primary and is running a write-in campaign. Of the three, she has the best chance of winning, according to one Democratic source. He says Shallcross-Smith could have an advantage because she is the only woman in a race that includes four men—the Republican, Democrat primary winner, and two independents.
Bristol, District 68 - Other Write-In Candidate Could Hand Race to GOP State Republicans are hoping that another member of the write-in coalition, incumbent Doug Gablinske, could split the Democrat vote with Richard Morrison, handing the race to the Republican, Thomas Carroll. “That makes it a real interesting race. I can’t tell you what’s going to happen,” Cicione said.
Portsmouth, District 72 - ‘A Slugfest’ Republican Dan Reilly (pictured left) and Amy Rice are fighting a bitter re-match. Rice has blasted Reilly for campaign finance violations and potentially running as an illegal candidate. Reilly and the state GOP have counter-attacked by pointing out that she has been consistently late with her campaign finance reports—in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and the current election. Rice has unearthed other unsavory details from his background—his parents are listed as the top delinquent taxpayers in the state and his home was foreclosed. “That’s like a slugfest,” Cicione said. Democratic chairman Ed Pacheco agreed. “I would say it’s one of the more colorful ones.” Reilly, a Providence College student, lost to Rice by three points in 2008. Cicione is confident the electorate will swing by 10 points this time. “I think it will be a good example of the tidal shift in the state.”
Burrillville, District 47 - Will Democratic Chairman’s Seat Go Red? In what would be a sweet symbolic victory, Republicans are hoping to pick off the seat that Pacheco is vacating. “It would just be a personal jab to Pacheco if he lost his seat,” Cicione said. Not surprisingly, Pacheco thinks the seat will stay blue, but one Democratic Party insider told GoLocalProv he thinks the seat might go Republican. The Democratic candidate is Cale Keable.
South County, District 36 - One for the Moderate Party? Moderate Party candidate Thomas Browning is in one of the few one-on-one races with a Democrat, incumbent Donna Walsh. It's a chance for the new party to win its first seat in the General Assembly.
SENATE
Portsmouth, District 11 - ‘A Clintonian Rock Star’ Democratic and Republican insiders agree this is a likely GOP pick-up. Cicione says Democrat Charles Levesque isn't exactly the best door-to-door campaigner, unlike Republican opponent Chris Ottiano (pictured right). “Chris is a Clintonian rock star by comparison,” Cicione said. Plus, he thinks Levesque’s "Lefty" political leanings are going to be a “real handicap.”
District 26, Cranston - A Bellwether District? Looking for a sign of changing political tides? This race might be it. Republican Sean Gately is running again—and he is getting a much better reception among voters this time, according to Cicione. “People who wouldn’t let him on their porch because he was a Republican are now demanding lawn signs,” Cicione said. He said Gately is working overtime to take advantage of the opportunity. “If there’s light over the horizon, he’s knocking on the doors.” One Democratic insider sees a possibility of a Republican pick-up, saying it’s a close race with Democratic incumbent Beatrice Lanzi (pictured below left).
Barrington, District 32 - Republican Incumbent in Trouble? Republicans are counting an anti-incumbent fever to help them, but that doesn’t necessarily bode well for the few incumbents they have—such as Senator David Bates, according to Pacheco. “I would say it’s equal opportunity,” Pacheco said. “If voters feel anti-incumbent, it’s probably across the board.” He predicts that Democratic challenger Jim Hasenfus will pull off a surprise win.
Providence, District 7 - Third Time's a Charm? Former Senator Catherine Graziano—a Democrat-turned-independent—is making her third attempt to take out Democratic incumbent Frank Ciccone. The big issue in the race? A Bill Clinton-style semantic debate about the use of the word “elect.” Graziano says Ciccone should be asking voters to re-elect, not elect him. Just so happens she’s doing the same kind of thing—using old signs that say “re-elect.”
Johnston, District 25 - The Most Crowded Race The always-eventful political scene in Johnston never disappoints. With a Republican, Democrat, and four independents running for this seat, the winner is anybody’s guess.
