It's Now a Two-Way Race for RI's Senate Dist. 11

PORTSMOUTH, RI—It’s now a two-way race for the upcoming special election to fill the open state Senate seat in District 11 after Independent candidate Gregory Blythe withdrew his name last week.

The remaining two candidates, Republican John Pagliarini and Democrat James Seveney, are now in the midst of holiday season campaigning and securing endorsements in the run-up to the Jan. 5 election.

Blythe this week posted a message on his Facebook page announcing that he was ending his campaign, citing the federal Hatch Act, which prohibits some federal employees from running for election. He is a store manager of a commissary at Naval Station Newport.

Meanwhile both Pagliarini and Seveney secured notable endorsements this week. Pagliarini on Friday, secured the backing of Portsmouth Concerned Citizens, a taxpayer-focused watchdog and advocacy group.

In a news release, PCC Larry Fitzmorris said that Pagliarini earned the group’s endorsement based on a revision of his expressed positions during their Meet the Candidates Night on Dec. 10 “as well as both candidates’ histories.”

Specifically, PCC members are opposed to truck tolling to fund road repairs and that issue was “fundamental to our decision.”

“The PCC is also looking for a Senator who will represent the interests of the citizens of District Eleven in the Assembly, and not just the views of the political establishment. Rhode Island is in dire economic difficulties and our group is looking for members of the Senate who are willing to aggressively pursue a restructuring of the laws and regulations limiting job and business growth in this state,” Fitzmorris said.

Seveney, also on Friday, secured the endorsement of Young Democrats of Rhode Island, which cited his lifelong commitment to the East Bay, his work on the Portsmouth School Committee in the early 2000s and his 11-year track record on the Portsmouth Town Council.

The YDRI said in a release that its members were “was impressed by the progress made on issues like wastewater management, eliminating tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge, maintaining ferry transportation for Prudence Island, and Portsmouth’s wind turbine.”

“The Young Democrats are proud to endorse Jim Seveney for the upcoming election for Senate District 11,” said YDRI board member Zack Mezera. “Jim has strong Democratic values and a proven track record of working on behalf of the residents and businesses of the East Bay, as well as a demonstrated ability to collaborate with Bristol and Tiverton. It’s hard to imagine a more ideal candidate for this seat.”

Seveney has also been endorsed by the Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee and the Rhode Island Progressive Democrats. Somewhat controversially, he was endorsed by outgoing Sen. Christopher Ottianio, a Republican who resigned his seat after getting a demanding job at Neighborhood Health Plan earlier this year.

Polling locations can be found at the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s website.

District 11 encompasses Portsmouth, Tiverton and Bristol.

Seveney and Pagliarini won their primary contests earlier this month after an initial seven candidates filed declarations of candidacy.