Who Rhode Island Democrats Are Contributing to for President in 2020
GoLocalProv News Team
Who Rhode Island Democrats Are Contributing to for President in 2020
So who are Rhode Islanders supporting for President in the Democratic primary in 2020?
According to the FEC, notable Rhode Island donations have come from old money to new, to Rhode Island real estate moguls, to environmental advocates and state employees and education and non-profit leaders, and more.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSLIDES: See Rhode Island Islanders Who Have Given to Democratic Presidential Hopefuls in 2020 BELOW
While Rhode Island was represented at the caucuses on Monday — including Democratic Central Falls Mayor James Diossa on the ground for Joe Biden — thousands of Rhode Island voters have donated to their candidate of choice so far this election cycle.
So who have Democratic Rhode Islanders supported so Presidential hopefuls so far?
See the latest in the Federal Election Commission’s filings, below.
Who Rhode Islanders Are Donating to in Democratic Presidential Primary - February 5, 2020
Joe Biden
According to the FEC, Rhode Island politicos donating to Biden include General Treasurer Seth Magziner’s mother Suzanne ($500); former U.S. Congressman Bob Weygand ($500); Rhode Island State Representative Bob Craven ($80), and former Providence Mayor Joe Paolino ($1000) (who earlier this year, held a downtown fundraiser for Pete Buttigieg).
Also among the ranks listed on the FEC former top CVS exec Helena Foulkes ($500), Bernie Bunonanno - Jr. and Sr. (for $3300), attorney Jeff Kasle and realtor wife Ellen ($1000); FM Global Foundation Chair Shivan Subramanian ($2800); Paul and Elizabeth Choquette ($1900); Buff Chace ($1000); Victoria Almeida with Adler, Pollock, and Sheehan ($1000); Providence-Warwick CVB head Kristen Adamo ($25); and Residential Properties’ Sally Lapides ($2800) — who had also donated $200 to now-former candidate Sen. Kamala Harris); and Bartlett Dunbar, President of Bowen’s Wharf Company (2500+).
Bernie Sanders
In 2016, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders shocked “Clinton Country” in Rhode Island when he topped Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary that April.
This year, Sanders has once again accumulated thousands of grassroots donations in the state.
Among Sanders’ Rhode Island contributors are progressive blog Uprise RI pollster Greg Brailsford ($2500), and progressive Democrats Jeanine Calkin ($330+) and Capri Catanzaro ($700+). And Sanders’ support is widespread, including contributions from North Smithfield mail carrier Gayle Cormier to Brown University cook Aronis Cornelio.
Elizabeth Warren
Warren's contributions in Rhode Island include lobbyist William A. Farrell ($257), Roger Williams Professor of Political Science and now Rhode Island State Representative June Speakman ($145), and Clay Rockefeller ($1,750) among those who are listed as giving to the Massachusetts Senator.
Also on the FEC’s list for Warren — former U.S. Attorney and PUC Chair Meg Curran ($165).
Pete Buttigieg
“Mayor Pete’s” list of politicos and donors represent a who’s-who of Democratic Rhode Island politics.
Raimondo Chief of Staff Brett Smiley ($1,075), former state Senator and Obama administration official Tom Coderre (who according to FED records, gave $225 but had $200 returned), and former Senate Candidate Nick Autiello ($1,800) are all listed as giving to Buttigieg; real estate developer Buff Chace ($2800), Providence Water Supply chair Xay Khamsyvoravong ($2800), and “Johnny Rockets’” Lloyd Sugarman ($1000) are all donors as well.
Amy Klobuchar
Klobuchar’s notable Rhode Island contributions include Save the Bay’s Jonathan Stone ($400) and recent Providence Mayor Candidate Dianne “Dee Dee” Witman ($500).
Andrew Yang
Yang picked up donations from Steel Yard founder Clay Rockefeller ($2600), Betaspring and RevUp’s Allan Tear $600
Other contributors include RevUp’s Melissa Withers ($370), Virgin Pulse’s Rajiv Kumar ($1000), the Rhode Island Foundation’s Neil Steinberg ($500), and former Betaspring alum turned Revival Brewing CEO Owen Johnson ($500).
