‘Democracy is not about agreeing 100%’

Forty-five years and a world of ideological differences separate Senate President Dominick Ruggerio from Sen. Tiara Mack.

But that didn’t stop Mack, a 30-year-old Black, queer woman who describes herself as an abortion fundraiser, from pounding the pavement in North Providence for 75-year-old Ruggerio in his primary against progressive challenger Lenny Cioe.

“I’ve talked with Lenny as well, he’s a good friend of mine,” Mack, a two-term incumbent representing Providence’s Senate District 6, said in an interview on Monday, the day before the primary election. “But I’ve also been happy with the leadership under the current Senate President.”

The alliance between Mack and Ruggerio was one of the more surprising partnerships showcased on social media leading up to Sept. 10 primary, in spite of, or perhaps because of, the lack of competitive elections.

I am grateful to every single person who has helped out on our campaign. You have my back, and I will always have yours. Your efforts have led us to success #TeamRuggeriopic.twitter.com/vMslrQFLkX
— Dominick Ruggerio (@SenatorRuggerio) September 8, 2024

More than half of the 105 state lawmakers running for reelection are unopposed in both the primary and general elections, Mack among them. Just 12 sitting lawmakers, all Democrats, faced primary challengers, including Ruggerio, who defeated Cioe with more than 70% of the vote, according to unofficial results published by the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

Mack canvassed for Ruggerio once during the summer, devoting most of her time to help fellow Providence progressive Enrique Sanchez in his reelection bid for Providence House District 9. Mack also knocked on doors in Westerly for peace activist Jonathan Daly-LaBelle, who lost by 30 percentage points to incumbent Democratic Rep. Samuel Azzinaro in the House District 37 primary.

Sanchez and Daly-LaBelle’s progressive platforms more closely align with Mack, who ran under the backing of the Rhode Island Political Cooperative in 2020. But Ruggerio, known for conservative stances on gun rights and abortion access, has also voted in favor of some progressive-led policies, including a 2024 bill sponsored by Mack making it easier for residents to change their names in municipal probate court. The policy signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee on June 27 was praised for inclusion and safety for members of the LGBTQ+ community and domestic violence victims.

In 2023, Ruggerio also cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee that allowed the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act to advance to the full Senate, where it also passed and was signed into law.

The most senior senator has not budged on his opposition to other progressive priorities, like passing an assault weapons ban.

Which is why Mack’s support for Ruggerio rankles Sen. Sam Bell.

“That was absolutely the wrong decision,” Bell, a Providence Democrat representing District 5, said in an interview. “It’s disrespectful for any Democrat to canvas for, or in any way support, the Senate president. His values are not the values of Democratic voters.”

Bell attributed Mack’s support for Ruggerio to political pressure.

She framed it differently.

“Elections are only one piece of the puzzle in getting good legislation passed,” she said. “I have seen how to build movements, and I recognize the work of leadership to prioritize my bills. Democracy is not about agreeing 100%.”

Rep. Brandon Potter, speaking on iGaming legislation on the House floor on June 15, 2023. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

‘You’re much better off having a good relationship with him’

It’s also not about personal vendettas.

But that’s what Cranston Rep. Brandon Potter says drove Ruggerio to recruit a Democratic challenger to run against Potter in his reelection bid for House District 16. Potter, a progressive Democrat aligned with the Rhode Island Working Families Party, accused Ruggerio of recruiting Joseph Graziano to run against him after Potter voted against Ruggerio’s iGaming bill in 2023. Ruggerio and Graziano both denied these allegations.

Potter, who trounced Graziano with more than 75% of the vote in Tuesday’s primary, said he understood why progressives might align themselves with Ruggerio.

“He’s one of the most powerful people in the state,” Potter said in an interview on Thursday. “It’s not a crazy concept to understand that you’re much better off having a good relationship with him than having a poor relationship with him if you are able.”

Especially in Rhode Island, where power rests almost entirely with legislative leaders, who control which bills advance to their respective chambers for votes.

“If you’re a rank and file member and you want to have any success with legislation, it might be wise to support the leader,” John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, said.

Mack and Ruggerio are hardly the first example of a surprising alliance within the Rhode Island Democratic Party. Among the most unlikely Democratic duos was former Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and former House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello. Gorbea knocked on doors for the former House leader in his 2016 reelection bid, despite their opposing views on abortion access and gun safety, among other issues.

Still, some lines are too far to cross.

“You wouldn’t see Brian Newberry doorknocking with Joe Shekarchi,” said Marion, referring respectively to the Republican House minority leader and the Democratic House speaker.

Legislative leaders’ control extends beyond the confines of the State House. Particularly for Shekarchi, a top fundraiser who can share his campaign wealth, along with that of the legislative PAC, with candidates of his choosing.

“Leadership controls the party machine,” Marion said. “Many of the employees from the General Assembly volunteer on campaigns. So leadership signaling support for a rank-and-file candidate is also a signal to the machine they control.”

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi is shown at the podium in the House chamber on the last night of the 2024 legislative session on Thursday, June 13, 2024. (Will Steinfeld/Rhode Island Current)

Shekarchi’s sphere of influence

Shekarchi said in an interview that his support drew upon personal relationships, not policies. He backed every incumbent Democratic representative, offering sizable campaign donations of $1,000 to many of them, including Potter and progressive Pawtucket Rep. Cherie Cruz, according to campaign finance statements filed with the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

One exception to Shekarchi’s generous donation list: Sanchez, one of three Democratic representatives to abstain in the vote to reelect Shekarchi as speaker in 2023.

“I am not involved in that race at all,” Shekarchi said. “Enrique didn’t vote for me, but I don’t hold that against him. Honestly, I don’t think my support would really be a welcome asset in that race.”

Sanchez secured a second term after beating his two Democratic, primary challengers with more than 50% of the vote.

On the other end of the spectrum, conservative Democratic Rep. Charlene Lima, of Cranston, enjoyed Shekarchi’s support and a $1,000 campaign contribution, despite the policy differences over gun safety, abortion access, and, during the pandemic, school masking requirements.

Lima, a three-decade legislator, also touted an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Jack Reed on her campaign website. She ultimately defeated Working Families Party-backed challenger Giona Picheco by a 14-percentage-point margin.

Georgia Hollister Isman, New England regional director of the Working Families Party, acknowledged the influence that top name endorsements lend to candidates. In Lima’s case, Reed’s endorsement “legitimized” her policies in a way that might be misleading, given her conservative voting record, Hollister Isman said.

Lima and Reed did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment.

Still, no single legislative leader, no matter how powerful, can determine the election outcome.

“Nobody matters as much as voters in the district,” Hollister Isman said. “It’s a cliche thing to say, but it’s true.”

Hence, why Potter never truly considered Graziano a serious threat to his reelection bid.

“I am known to be a really strong campaigner,” he said. “I was in a pretty strong electoral position.”

Potter continued, “From what we saw not just in my race, in many other races, voters care about people who are focusing on issues and paying attention, and they support people who are really fighting for core Democratic values.”

Rhode Island Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Rhode Island Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janine L. Weisman for questions: info@rhodeislandcurrent.com. Follow Rhode Island Current on Facebook and X.