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More Rhode Island Politics Headlines

RI POLITICS

Superior Court Judge Luis M. Matos, left, speaks after Governor Daniel J. McKee, right, nominated him for the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Woman says R.I. Supreme Court nominee ‘expressed extreme anti-choice rhetoric’ when she became pregnant

Governor Daniel McKee said his nominee, Judge Luis Matos, “made clear to me that he firmly believes in a woman’s right to choose. He brings extensive judicial experience and a strong record of service to the bench.” 2:38 p.m.

RI POLITICS

The view looking up from the Rhode Island State House rotunda.

Blue wave washes over R.I. as Republicans lose 4 of 14 legislative seats in the General Assembly

Republican Representative Christopher Paplauskas lost to Allan Fung, the former GOP mayor of Cranston who ran as an independent and will be the first Asian American in the House. 6:00 a.m.

RI POLITICS

A view of the organic chemistry lab as the media toured construction of the Rhode Island State Laboratories in downtown Providence in June 2025. The building also houses the Rhode Island Life Science Hub.

In a rare move, R.I. voters rejected a $100m economic development bond. Some worried it would subsidize data centers.

“I don’t want to see corporate welfare for an AI data center,” said state Senator Sam Bell, a Providence Democrat, 5:55 a.m.

RI POLITICS

Steph Machado and Dan McGowan of the Globe staff discuss the results of the 2026 election for Providence Mayor, and the controversial ballot questions.

Analysis: R.I. Governor-elect Foulkes’ bigger than expected victory, Providence Mayor-elect Morales’ next steps

Watch Globe Rhode Island political reporters discuss the results of the 2026 general election. 4:38 p.m.

RI POLITICS

Rhode Island Governor-elect Helena Buonanno Foulkes spoke to the press and thanked voters in Providence's Wayland Square on Wednesday.

Five things R.I. Governor-elect Helena Foulkes is planning for her first 100 days

She looked ahead to where her administration would start on issues ranging from housing to health care, public transportation and energy policy. 3:38 p.m.

RI POLITICS

US Senator Jack Reed speaks during a post election gathering Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 in Providence. Reed and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse are about to lead two of the most powerful committees in all of Congress.

Rhode Island just got a lot more powerful

Perhaps the biggest story for Rhode Island will be the power that US Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse just secured, as they’re about to chair two of the most powerful committees in all of Congress. 9:37 a.m.

Democratic Senator-elect Chris Pappas (right) spoke at an election night event in Manchester with his husband, Vann Bentley.

First openly gay male senator. First Black woman governor. First Muslim senator. The midterms brought a wave of historic firsts.

Election results brought a wave of notable firsts, mostly by Democrats, from New Hampshire to Georgia, Texas to California. 8:36 a.m.

COLUMN | DAN MCGOWAN

Helena Buonanno Foulkes and David Morales.

In Rhode Island, a capitalist governor and a socialist mayor

Helena Foulkes and David Morales will take office in January with sharply different ideas about how government should work, but their relationship could have an outsized impact on Rhode Island’s future. 8:08 a.m.