Cicilline, Chafee win in R.I.
0Rhode Island voters elected an openly gay man to Congress and a pro-gay gubernatorial candidate on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
David Cicilline, the 49 year-old mayor of Providence, defeated state Rep. John Loughlin [R-Little Compton] in the race to succeed outgoing Congressman Patrick Kennedy by a 51-45 percent margin. Loughlin, a conservative who vowed to continue former President George W. Bush's tax cuts, denied the existence of global warming and opposed the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell.'
Cicilline will become the fourth openly gay member of Congress. He had vowed to help restore jobs in recession-ravaged Rhode Island. And Cicilline had said Loughlin would vote to privatize Social Security if he won the election.
President Obama stumped for Cicilline late last month. Two lavish fundraisers attracted protesters from anti-war groups, Tea Party members and LGBT activists, but these appeared to factor little into the election results.
Cicilline's political career began in the state House of Representatives in 1994. He staked out liberal positions on civil and gay rights, abortion and gun control.
Cicilline received 84 percent of the vote when voters first elected him Providence mayor in 2002. And they re-elected him four years later.
Cicilline had been mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate, but he announced in 2009 he would seek a third mayoral term. In a March 2009 interview with EDGE, Cicilline boasted of the reduction in the city's crime rate, the restoration of integrity to city government, his ability to attract new business investment to Providence and the improved quality of the city's schools.
Cicilline announced his candidacy last February after Kennedy announced his plans to retire.
"It is clear to me that Washington has lost sight of what hardworking, middle class families are going through in this country" Cicilline told EDGE. "There is a dangerous disconnect between what is happening to families living in cities and towns in Rhode Island and all across this country and what Washington is doing about it. We need someone who can provide practical solutions to the real problems facing families and work to develop solutions that improve people's lives."
House Majority Leader Gordon Fox (D-Providence) and state Rep. Frank Ferri (D-Warwick) were among the prominent gay politicians who endorsed Cicilline.
Cicilline defeated businessman Anthony Gemma, former state Democratic party chair William Lynch and state Rep. David Segal in a four-way Democratic primary in September.
Incumbent Democratic Congressman James Langevin won re-election, defeating Republican Mark Zaccaria.
Meanwhile, former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee won the gubernatorial race with 36 percent of the vote. Chafee will succeed incumbent Gov. Don Carcieri, who opposes marriage equality.
Chafee left the Republican Party after he lost his 2006 re-election bid. Chafee defeated Republican John Robitaille, an opponent of marriage for gays and lesbians. State Treasurer Frank Caprio finished third and Moderate Party candidate Ken Block finished fourth.
Chafee's win gives a boost to marriage equality supporters. Chafee was one of the candidates who vowed to sign a marriage bill into law if elected.
Marriage Equality Rhode Island endorsed Chafee, but retracted their support of Caprio after he said in a debate he believed the voters should decide whether or not same-sex couples should have the right to get married.
In the General Assembly, Fox, Ferry and state Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Jamestown, Middletown) were re-elected. State Reps. Edith Ajello, Arthur Handy, Scott Slater, Grace Diaz, and Donald Lally, and state Sens. Juan Pichardo, Rhoda Perry, Donna Nesselbush, Erin Lynch, Nicholas Kettle, Joshua Miller, Christopher Ottiano, and Susan Sosnowski were among the pro-LGBT legislators who won their re-election bids.
"Rhode Islanders across the state have spoken out for equality," said Patrick Smock, chair of MERI's political action committee. "They cast their votes and are sending marriage equality supporters to the State House to bring fairness and respect to all the families in our state, their friends and neighbors."