Jake Bissaillon Wins State Senate Race In Providence Election

PROVIDENCE, RI — With 100 percent of precincts reported, Democratic General Assembly staffer Jake Bissaillon carries a sizeable lead over Republican frontline health care worker Republican Niyoka Powell.

This special election decides who takes the seat vacated by state Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin (D-Providence), who died earlier this year following a battle with cancer. With all precincts reported, Bissaillon leads with 760 votes, compared to Powell's 160, according to unofficial results.

Bissaillon, when he spoke with Patch, said he ran to address affordable housing, which he believes is the most pressing issue in Providence and Rhode Island as a whole.

"Housing is the single most pressing issue facing Providence and the state of Rhode Island, and I have a front row seat to it campaigning here in District 1," Bissaillon said in his Patch candidate profile. "From the Charles Street encampments to the lack of access to traditional working class homeownership opportunities in Wanskuck, Senate District One is a perfect window in to the state’s housing crisis."

Unofficial Election Results For RI State Senate District 1

(Numbers represent vote totals.)

• Jacob Bissaillon (D): 760
• Niyoka Powell (R): 160
• Write-in: 8

The first state senate district represents a portion of Providence.

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