Race for Senate District 3 Turns Negative - Levey Friedman Supporters Attack Opponent

Race for Senate District 3 Turns Negative - Levey Friedman Supporters Attack Opponent

The highly competitive race for the special election in the Rhode Island State Senate seat in district 3 has turned negative over the final days before the Democratic primary. 

One group that is a big supporter of candidate Hilary Levey Friedman has sent out a mailer criticizing Geena Pham.

Friedman has been the fundraising front-runner, raising more than $70,000 -- with much of it from out-of-state.

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Negative Ad Hits Mailboxes

The mailer was sent out by the Providence Firefighters Union and slams Pham for her political association with Matt Brown — a progressive Democrat running for governor.

The mailer was paid for by Providence Firefighters IAFF Local 799, whose president is Derek Silva. The union endorsed Friedman last month.

The mailer talks more about Brown than Pham and states that Brown “has a long history of shady dealings and stiffing working people.”

Brett Jacobs, another candidate in the special election took to Twitter to criticize the negative political attack, “I was disappointed to see a mailer today on the East Side attacking one of my opponents. We have great people running in this #Providence special election, and there is no need for negative campaigning.”

The Levey Friedman campaign denies any coordination with the mailer.

Political consultant Erich Haslehurst has been directing Levey Friedman’s campaign.

 

 

“I have not seen it [the mailer] and we won’t partake in a negative campaign,” said Haslehurst.

Haslehurst said the Levey Friedman campaign is committed to running a “100% positive campaign.”

But, Haslehurst said the Friedman campaign would not disavow the firefighters union

"Matt Brown has nothing to do with the campaign," added Haslehurst.

Others running in the Democratic primary are former State Representative Ray Rickman and former Providence City Councilman Sam Zurier.

The winner of Tuesday's Democratic primary will face Republican Alex Cannon.

This story was first published 10/1/21 7:23 PM