2014 Rhode Island elections

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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Rhode Island on November 4, 2014. All of Rhode Island's executive officers went up for election as well as a United States Senate seat and both of Rhode Island's two seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on September 9, 2014.

Contents

Governor

Incumbent Democratic Governor Lincoln Chafee was eligible to run for re-election to a second term, but decided to retire. The Democratic nominee was Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo and the Republican nominee was Cranston Mayor Allan Fung. Also running were Robert J. Healey of the Moderate Party and two Independent candidates. Raimondo won the gubernatorial election.

Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Gina Raimondo 131,899 40.7
Republican Allan Fung 117,42836.2
Moderate Robert J. Healey 69,27821.4
Independent Kate Fletcher3,4831.1
Independent Leon Kayarian1,2280.4
Total votes323,766 100.0
Democratic hold

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island Elizabeth H. Roberts was term-limited and could run for re-election to a third term in office. Democrat Dan McKee won the 2014 general election.

Democratic primary

State Representative Frank Ferri, Cumberland Mayor Daniel McKee and Secretary of State of Rhode Island A. Ralph Mollis ran for the Democratic nomination, which McKee won with a plurality. State Senator Joshua Miller had considered running, [1] but decided against it. [2]

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Frank
Ferri
Daniel
McKee
A. Ralph
Mollis
Undecided
Fleming & Associates August 11–14, 2014503± 4.38%10%15%25%47%
Democratic primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Daniel McKee 50,229 43.03
Democratic A. Ralph Mollis42,52536.43
Democratic Frank Ferri23,97020.54
Total votes116,724 100

Republican primary

Catherine Terry Taylor, a former speechwriter for Senators John Chafee and Lincoln Chafee and the nominee for secretary of state in 2010, resigned as Director of the Division of Elderly Affairs to run. [4] She defeated Kara Young, a conservative activist and perennial candidate. Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian had considered running, but did not do so. [5]

Republican primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Catherine Terry Taylor 17,722 66.74
Republican Kara D. Young8,83133.26
Total votes26,553 100

General election

Also on the ballot were Moderate Party nominee William H. Gilbert, a Republican nominee for the state senate in 2012 and Libertarian Tony Jones, a radio host and DJ. Constitution Party nominee Thomas David Gallant withdrew from the race. [6] Democrat Dan McKee won the 2014 general election.

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Daniel
McKee (D)
Catherine
Taylor (R)
William
Gilbert (M)
OtherUndecided
Brown University October 14–17, 20141,129± 2.9%29%20%2%2% [7] 47%
Fleming & Associates October 6–9, 2014505± 4%36%27%3%2% [7] 33%

Results

Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Daniel McKee 169,078 54.3
Republican Catherine Terry Taylor105,30533.8
Moderate William H. Gilbert25,9518.3
Libertarian Tony Jones10,2213.3
n/a Write-ins9060.3
Total votes311,461 100.0
Democratic hold

Attorney General

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Peter Kilmartin successfully ran for re-election to a second term in office.

Democratic primary

Kilmartin was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Democratic primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Peter Kilmartin 91,021 100

Republican primary

State Senator Dawson Hodgson was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Republican primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dawson Hodgson 23,795 100

General election

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Peter
Kilmartin (D)
Dawson
Hodgson (R)
OtherUndecided
Brown University October 25–26, 2014500± 4.4%53%38%10%
Fleming & Associates October 6–9, 2014505± 4%46%32%22%

Results

Rhode Island Attorney General election, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Peter Kilmartin (incumbent) 177,981 56.9
Republican Dawson Hodgson 134,44443.0
n/a Write-ins5800.2
Total votes313,005 100.0
Democratic hold

Secretary of state

Incumbent Democratic secretary of state A. Ralph Mollis was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office. He instead ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. Nellie Gorbea won the 2014 general election.

Democratic primary

Former deputy secretary of state and former executive director of HousingWorks RI Nellie Gorbea defeated investor and candidate for secretary of state in 2006 Guillaume de Ramel. Former state representative and former chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic Party Edwin R. Pacheco had declared his candidacy in April 2013, [8] but he withdrew from the race in October 2013 [9] and endorsed de Ramel. [10] Providence City Councillor Terry Hassett had also considered running, [11] but decided to run for re-election instead. [12]

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Guillaume
de Ramel
Nellie
Gorbea
Undecided
Fleming & Associates August 11–14, 2014503± 4.38%27%13%57%
Democratic primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nellie Gorbea 58,444 51.41
Democratic Guillaume de Ramel55,23748.59
Total votes113,681 100

Republican primary

John Carlevale, a retired social worker and perennial candidate for public office was unopposed for the Republican nomination. [13] Catherine Terry Taylor, a former speechwriter for Senators John Chafee and Lincoln Chafee and the nominee for secretary of state in 2010, had considered running, [5] but ran for lieutenant governor instead.

Republican primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican John Carlevale 23,232 100

General election

Also on the ballot was Independent candidate Pamela Azar, a teacher.

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Nellie
Gorbea (D)
John
Carlevale (R)
OtherUndecided
Brown University October 14–17, 20141,129± 2.9%38%23%39%
Fleming & Associates October 6–9, 2014505± 4%41%27%32%

Results

Rhode Island Secretary of State election, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nellie Gorbea 186,899 60.5
Republican John Carlevale121,46639.3
n/a Write-ins7700.2
Total votes309,135 100.0
Democratic hold

General Treasurer

Incumbent Democratic General Treasurer Gina Raimondo did not run for re-election to a second term in office. She instead ran successfully for Governor of Rhode Island. Seth Magaziner won the 2014 general election.

Democratic primary

Investment fund manager Seth Magaziner defeated former General Treasurer and nominee for Governor in 2010 Frank T. Caprio.

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Ernie
Almonte
Frank T.
Caprio
Seth
Magaziner
Undecided
Fleming & Associates August 11–14, 2014503± 4.38%31%43%24%
Fleming & Associates May 27–30, 2014506± 4.38%9%29%11%46%
Democratic primary results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Seth Magaziner 80,378 66.55
Democratic Frank T. Caprio40,40233.45
Total votes120,780 100

General election

No Republican filed to run for the office. Instead, the party rallied around Independent candidate Ernie Almonte, a former Democrat who served as State Auditor General from 1994 to 2010. [14] [15] Seth Magaziner won the general election.

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Seth
Magaziner (D)
Ernie
Almonte (I)
OtherUndecided
Brown University October 14–17, 20141,129± 2.9%47%33.1%19.8%
Fleming & Associates October 6–9, 2014505± 4%46.7%34.3%19%

Results

Rhode Island General Treasurer election, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Seth Magaziner 175,902 57.1
Independent Ernie Almonte131,42342.7
n/a Write-ins5880.2
Total votes307,913 100.0
Democratic hold

United States Senate

Incumbent Democratic senator Jack Reed ran successfully for re-election to a fourth term in office. The Republican nominee was former chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party, former North Kingstown Town Councilman and nominee for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district in 2008 and 2010 Mark Zaccaria.

United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jack Reed (incumbent) 223,675 70.6
Republican Mark Zaccaria92,68429.2
n/a Write-ins5390.2
Total votes316,898 100.0
Democratic hold

United States House of Representatives

Both of Rhode Island's two seats in the United States House of Representatives went up for election in 2014.

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References

  1. "Josh Miller may mull run for lieutenant governor". Rhode Island Public Radio. March 26, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  2. "Josh Miller Decides Against 2014 Run for Lieutenant Governor". Rhode Island Public Radio. July 22, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2014 Statewide Primary". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  4. "Republican announces run for Lt. Governor". ABC6. June 10, 2014. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Republicans Avedisian and Taylor still undecided on R.I. lieutenant governor race". Providence Journal. January 27, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  6. "Eight candidates running for lieutenant governor". Providence Journal. June 27, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Tony Jones (L)
  8. "Former Rep. Ed Pacheco running for secretary of state". WPRI. April 22, 2013. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  9. "Democrat Edwin Pacheco drops out of race for R.I. secretary of state". Providence Journal. October 12, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  10. "NEW: Ed Pacheco Endorses Guillame De Ramel For Secretary of State". Go Local Prov. December 12, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  11. "Hassett eyeing secretary of state run for 2014". WRNI. June 7, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  12. "Hassett Throws Support in Secretary of State Race to Pacheco". Rhode Island Public Radio. May 23, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  13. "Republican Carlevale running again for secretary of state". Providence Journal. June 17, 2014. Archived from the original on November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  14. DeQuattro, Dee (April 30, 2013). "Almonte to run for General Treasurer, not Governor". ABC 6. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  15. Nesi, Ted (May 16, 2013). "Ernie Almonte abandons campaign for governor to run for RI treasurer". WPRI. Archived from the original on June 13, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.