2022: Rhode Island’s Political Future—Molina Flynn
Wednesday, January 02, 2019
As the country watches the turn of events leading up to the 2020 election, Democrats ponder who will get the nomination, and the world watches to see whether President Trump is reelected, Rhode Island has its sight set slightly further. 2022 is shaping up to be a very interesting election year for the State. Four of the five statewide officeholders are ineligible for reelection in their respective positions: Governor Raimondo, Lieutenant Governor McKee, Secretary of State Gorbea, and Treasurer Magaziner. Likewise, the City of Providence will bid Mayor Elorza adieu along with a majority of the City Council members.
The Latinx vote mattered and made a difference in key races in 2018, and it is sure to continue an upward trend in the years leading up to 2022. What does that mean for the top races?
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GOVERNOR RAIMONDO
Speculation about Governor Raimondo’s next step is rampant. Ruminations of a run for the Presidency have been percolating. Certainly, Governor Raimondo seems well-positioned to make a run for a national race. She was, after all, recently elected chair of the Democratic Governor’s Association. It is extremely doubtful she would challenge any of the current members of the Rhode Island federal delegation, a delegation which, it seems, may stand to lose one of its seats. But will she run for President? That remains to be seen. Her movements over the next few months can help shed some light on that proposition. Those who do not believe she will run for President suggest she may try to join a ticket as the Vice-Presidential nominee. Rhode Island may not have much to contribute in terms of electoral votes, but if she can rally the other Democratic Governors behind her, it may be a viable alternative for the Governor.
Rhode Island’s Latinx community supported Governor Raimondo in her reelection bid in 2018 and they will likely support her in her future endeavors nationally since Rhode Island’s Latinx community skews mostly Democrat.
THE NEXT GOVERNOR
The Governor’s race seems poised to be crowded. Potential candidates include Lieutenant Governor McKee, Secretary of State Gorbea, Treasurer Magaziner, Mayor Elorza, and former candidate Matt Brown. All of the candidates have wide support from the Latinx community. In a race this crowded, it is difficult to identify which of them would secure the Latinx vote. Mayor Elorza and Secretary Gorbea will certainly play to their strengths and bring their own cultural background, experiences, language skills, and overall cultural awareness to the campaign trail. Treasurer Magaziner and Lieutenant Governor McKee, however, have also proven to understand the needs of the community and have positioned themselves as great allies.
If this race were held today, the Latinx vote would likely follow Secretary of State Gorbea who has been a pioneer in Rhode Island’s Latinx community for more than twenty years.
THE OTHER STATEWIDE RACES
Some possible candidates for the remaining statewide positions are Rep. Aaron Regunberg who recently ran a very formidable race for Lieutenant Governor. James Diossa, the current Mayor of Central Falls, is also term-limited and appears likely to make a bid for one of the State’s top positions. If Rep. Regunberg can maintain his momentum among progressives leading into the 2022 elections, he seems well-positioned to be able to claim the Lieutenant’s office. Mayor Diossa, for his part, would make a great Secretary of State and can continue to build on the legacy that Secretary Gorbea would leave behind.
MAYOR OF PROVIDENCE
The race for Mayor of Providence will also get crowded. Seeing as the majority of the councilmembers will be ineligible to run for council reelection, at least some of them are bound to make a run for the City’s top seat. Some names being thrown around are councilmembers Sabina Matos, David Salvatore, and Nirva LaFortune (who is not term limited in the next election). Aside from these council members, Gonzalo Cuervo from Secretary Gorbea’s office and Rep. Grace Diaz have also been identified as potential candidates in the next race.
If this race were held today, the Latinx vote would likely be divided between Councilmember Sabina Matos and Rep. Grace Diaz. If recent races prove us right, the Latinx community is ready to embrace women leaders unlike ever before. These two women have been doing the work in Providence for years and have built powerful alliances in the community.
Premature as it may be to start thinking about 2022, watching all of these people over the next couple of years will be interesting. 2022 as an election year is one from which Rhode Island can benefit greatly, and all of these potential candidates will be, no doubt, putting in the work to ensure that Rhode Islanders know they are the ones to lead the charge.
Joseph Molina Flynn is a family & immigration attorney with offices in Boston & Providence. He is the current president of the RI Latino Pac and the RI Latino Civic Fund.
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