Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC Announces First Round of Endorsements for the 2024 General Assembly Election
For Immediate Release: July 18, 2024 (Updated: July 18, 2024, 5:40 p.m.)
Providence, RI — Today, Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island Political Action Committee (PPV!RI PAC) announced its initial endorsements for the 2024 General Assembly elections. This diverse group of 65 candidates, including 22 for the Rhode Island Senate and 43 for the Rhode Island House of Representatives, will champion reproductive rights and enhance access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion, for all Rhode Islanders.
"In the face of escalating threats to abortion access nationally, the role of state governments to defend reproductive freedom has never been more critical. Here in Rhode Island, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to elect champions who will fight to protect our reproductive rights and pass policies that expand access to vital health care," stated Amanda Skinner, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island and a member of the PPV!RI PAC. "We know firsthand what progress can look like in Rhode Island when we send unapologetic supporters of abortion access to the State House. That's why we proudly support this year’s Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC endorsed candidates. Planned Parenthood patients across our state are counting on us."
Over the past five years, Rhode Island has made important strides to advance reproductive freedom, with major victories like passing the Reproductive Privacy Act, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, and the Health Care Provider Shield Act. Rhode Island continues to protect and expand access to abortion under state law, largely due to the significant presence of PPV!RI PAC-endorsed candidates in the General Assembly.
Voters in the Ocean State strongly support abortion rights. According to 2022 polling data,70% of Rhode Island voters believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. A majority of voters across gender, race, and age lines believe abortion should be legal in most cases, as do 62% of Independents and 57% of Catholics.
"For politicians who oppose abortion, overturning Roe v. Wade was just a warm-up lap. The end goal has always been full control of our bodies and our medical decisions," said Gretchen Raffa, Vice President, Public Policy, Advocacy, and Organizing of Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island and Treasurer of PPV!RI PAC. “We call on all Rhode Islanders to join us in supporting incumbent General Assembly members who have championed reproductive freedom, as well as sending new candidates to the State House who are bold enough to fight for and defend our rights so we can continue advancing critical legislation without obstruction."
In selecting candidates for endorsement in the 2024 elections, PPV!RI PAC considered multiple factors, including the evolving political landscape post-Roe, candidates' historical advocacy on related issues, and upcoming legislative priorities.
THE 2024 GENERAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES RECEIVING AN ENDORSEMENT FROM PPV!RI PAC
The list of endorsed candidates includes those who have declared their intention to run who may not yet be certified on the ballot by the Secretary of State.
State Senate
Samuel D. Zurier* (District 3)
Samuel W. Bell* (District 5)
Tiara T. Mack* (District 6)
Sandra Cano* (District 8)
Linda L. Ujifusa*(District 11)
Dawn Euer* (District 13)
Valarie J. Lawson* (District 14)
Meghan E. Kallman* (District 15)
Jonathon Acosta* (District 16)
Cameron Deutsch (District 17)
Ryan W. Pearson* (District 19)
Lewis Pryeor (District 23)
Melissa A. Murray* (District 24)
Pamela Leary (District 25)
Jennifer Rourke (District 29)
Mark P. McKenney* (District 30)
Matthew L. LaMountain* (District 31)
Pamela J. Lauria*(District 32)
Bridget G. Valverde* (District 35)
Alana DiMario* (District 36)
V. Susan Sosnowski* (District 37)
Victoria Gu*(District 38)
State House of Representatives
Edith H. Ajello* (District 1)
Christopher R. Blazejewski* (District 2)
Nathan W. Biah* (District 3)
Rebecca M. Kislak* (District 4)
Anthony J. DeSimone* (District 5)
David Morales* (District 7)
John J. Lombardi* (District 8)
Jose F. Batista* (District 12)
Giona Picheco (District 14)
Brandon C. Potter* (District 16)
Arthur Handy* (District 18)
Joseph M. McNamara* (District 19)
Evan P. Shanley* (District 24)
Scott Guthrie (District 28)
Justine A. Caldwell* (District 30)
Julie A. Casimiro* (District 31)
Robert E. Craven, Sr.* (District 32)
Carol Hagan McEntee* (District 33)
Teresa Ann Tanzi* (District 34)
Kathleen A. Fogarty* (District 35)
Tina L. Spears* (District 36)
Jonathan Daly-LaBelle (District 37)
Megan L. Cotter* (District 39)
Linda Nichols (District 40)
Kelsey Coletta (District 42)
Mary Ann Shallcross Smith* (District 46)
Paul Roselli (District 47)
Joshua J. Giraldo* (District 56)
Brandon T. Voas* (District 57)
Cherie L. Cruz* (District 58)
Jennifer A. Stewart* (District 59)
Karen Alzate* (District 60)
Leonela Felix* (District 61)
Katherine S. Kazarian* (District 63)
Jenni Azanero Furtado (District 64)
Matt S. Dawson* (District 65)
Jennifer Smith Boylan* (District 66)
Jason Knight* (District 67)
June Speakman* (District 68)
Susan R. Donovan* (District 69)
John G. Edwards* (District 70)
Michelle E. McGaw* (District 71)
Lauren H. Carson* (District 75)
*candidate is the incumbent
PPV!RI PAC may release more endorsements in the coming weeks. Depending on the outcome of primary races, PPV!RI PAC may also issue additional endorsements for the general election.
Primary elections will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
For more information about Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island and the Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC, visit ppvotes.org.
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Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island PAC is the Rhode Island state political action committee affiliated with Planned Parenthood Votes! RI (PPV!RI). PPV!RI is the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE).