Rhode Island voters are gearing up to choose their candidates for the upcoming U.S. Senate election, with Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse facing a primary challenge from Mike Costa. Whitehouse has a significant financial advantage over Costa, with a campaign that has already booked more than $310,000 in broadcast advertising. On the Republican side, state Rep. Patricia Morgan is the only candidate who has booked radio and television ads, facing off against Ray McKay in the Senate primary. Meanwhile, the state’s two Democratic congressmen, Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner, are facing no primary challenges this time around.
Last year, Gabe Amo faced a crowded field of candidates to secure his party’s nomination for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District. This year, however, Amo is running uncontested as none of his previous competitors are seeking to replace him. Similarly, Seth Magaziner, the state’s freshman Democrat, won’t face a primary challenge either. The rest of Rhode Island’s primaries will focus on mayoral elections in a few cities and General Assembly seats.
Rhode Island’s state primaries are set to take place on Tuesday, with polls closing at 8 p.m. ET. The Associated Press will provide results for contested primaries for U.S. Senate, state Senate and House, as well as mayoral primaries in Cranston, Pawtucket, and Woonsocket. Registered voters affiliated with a political party can vote only in their own party’s primary, while independent or unaffiliated voters can participate in any primary. Turnout and advance voting numbers indicate that the interest in the primaries is high this year.
With no automatic recounts in Rhode Island, candidates may request a recount depending on the vote margin. The AP will only declare a winner when it’s determined that the trailing candidates cannot close the gap. Turnout for the primaries is expected to be significant, with 775,000 registered voters in the state. Advance voting has already seen 15,165 ballots cast, with a majority in the Democratic primary. The vote-counting process usually concludes on election night, with results being reported shortly after polls close.
As the countdown to the November general election begins, Rhode Island voters are gearing up to choose their candidates for the U.S. Senate and other state-level positions. The primary day is expected to be a significant event in the state’s political landscape, with candidates vying for their party’s nomination in hotly contested races. The outcome of the primaries will set the stage for the general election in November, where voters will choose their representatives for the upcoming term.
