Elorza Prevails in Providence Mayoral Democratic Primary
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Jorge Elorza has beaten opponent Michael Solomon in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Providence.
Elorza, the former Providence Housing Court Judge and Roger Williams University law professor, won a tightly contested battle over City Council President Solomon. Elorza received 10,562 votes (49.3%) against Solomon's 9,190 votes (42.9%). The vote in Providence's Democratic Mayoral primary voter turnout was down nearly 20% versus 2010.
Elorza now faces Republican Daniel Harrop -- and two-time Providence Mayor, independent Vincent "Buddy" Cianci -- in the general election on November 4.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPath to Victory
Elorza, who launched his campaign last November, counted among his supporters -- and endorsers -- Phil West, retired head of Common Cause; Marie Langlois, board member of the Rhode Island Foundation; John Kelly, Meeting Street School CEO; Victor Cappellan, former Central Falls Deputy School Superintendent; Lorraine Lalli, RWU School of Law; and Stan Israel, formerly of SEIU 1199, among others.
Elorza picked up additional support when former opponent Brett Smiley dropped out of the race with two weeks to go. Former Smiley supporter Myrth York made the switch, as did a number of others, and Elorza took on several Smiley staff members in an attempt to oust Solomon.
Now, Elorza has to turn his focus to Harrop and Cianci. Harrop has deflected questions that he could get out of the race, which would turn the three way race into a two-way battle.
Related Slideshow: Questions Jorge Elorza Must Answer to be Providence’s Next Mayor
Related Articles
- Elorza Responds to Smiley Over Marrocco Support
- NEW: Smiley Calls for Elorza to Disavow Marrocco Endorsement, Money
- Elorza Outlines Vision for Curriculum and Assessments
- With Solomon Leading Democratic Primary, Smiley To Drop Out and Support Elorza
- Deal Done: Smiley and Elorza Team Up to Try and Beat Back Solomon
- Questions Jorge Elorza Must Answer to be Providence’s Next Mayor
- Russell Moore: Elorza, Smiley and Double Standards
- NEW: Elorza Hires Taraborelli as Communications Director
- Elorza Unveils Five-Point Plan for Providence City Services
- Elorza/Smiley Deny Back Room Deal in Mayoral Shake Up
- Russell Moore: Elorza, Smiley Cut an Insider’s Deal
- York Endorses Elorza
- Elorza Plagiarized Diossa Apology for Stealing
- Elorza Receives Roberts’ Endorsement
- Solomon Campaign Says Elorza’s Plagiarism Makes Him Not ‘Fit to be Mayor’
- INVESTIGATION: Elorza Failed to Disclose Arrest
- NEW: Former Smiley Staffers Join Elorza Ranks
- Elorza Blasts Smiley for “Intentionally Misleading Voters”
- New Questions Surface in Solomon Ethics Filings
- LISTEN: New Questions Surface in Solomon Ethics Filings
- NEW: City Council Candidate Long Files Ethics Complaint Against Solomon
- Ric Santurri: Michael Solomon’s Ethics Problems
- Solomon 1994 Bankruptcy Filing Raises New Disclosure Questions
- Solomon Failed to Report PEDP’s Conrad Building Loan in Ethics Filings
- LISTEN: Solomon Failed to Report PEDP’s Conrad Building Loan in Ethics Filings
- NEW: Jerzyk, Hemond Out at Solomon Campaign + Hamilton Group
- NEW: Solomon Proposes Master Tax Stabilization Plan for 195 Land
- GoLocal Goes 1-on-1 With Marrocco: He Slams Cianci and Solomon
- NEW: Smiley Calls on Solomon to Repay Debt to Providence Taxpayers
- Solomon Rented to Head Shop Across from School Before City Tobacco Ban
- NEW: Solomon Apologizes for Clerical Error in Ethics Filings, Claims Lead in Polls
- New Solomon Ethics Violations Alleged by Providence City Council Candidate Long
- Ric Santurri: What the Solomon Poll Really Says about the Providence Mayor’s Race
- NEW: Poll Shows Solomon Can Beat Cianci
- Ric Santurri: Solomon – Do As I Say, Not As I Do
- NEW: Solomon Scores Two Late Endorsements
- GoLocal Investigation Leads to RI Ethics Probe into Solomon Filings
- Questions Michael Solomon Needs to Answer to be Providence’s Next Mayor
- NEW: Elorza Picks Up Three More Endorsements
- Who Has the Best Chance to Beat Cianci - Elorza or Solomon (or Harrop)
- NEW: Elorza Calls for Annual “North by Northeast” Festival in Providence Beginning in 2016
- NEW: Elorza Camp Reports High Voter Turnout at Summit Commons
- Guest MINDSETTER™ Jorge Elorza: Providence Needs to Develop a Citywide Broadband Internet Network