Special Election Scheduled To Fill Late Senate President Ruggerio's Seat: See Details

PROVIDENCE, RI — A special election will be held this summer in Senate District 4 in Rhode Island to fill the seat vacated by the late Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.

On Tuesday, the Rhode Island Board of Elections approved a special election calendar. The primary is scheduled for July 8, while the general election is Aug. 5.

Ruggerio, 76, a Democrat, died last month after battling cancer and other ailments. His death left vacant a district which represents parts of Providence and North Providence. Ruggerio had held that seat since 1985.

The candidate declaration deadline for the special election is May 29-30. Then, candidates will have until June 10, to get enough signatures on their nomination papers and qualify for the ballot.

To vote in the special election, voters need to be registered by June 8 for the primary and July 6 for the general election. As of Thursday, one candidate has publicly announced they will run — former Providence state Rep. Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, a Democrat.

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