Segal Brings Populist Energy, Progressive Ideas to Congressional Race

Segal Brings Populist Energy, Progressive Ideas to Congressional Race

Popular Progressive David Segal kicked off his campaign for Congress today, staking his candidacy on his grassroots ties and advocacy for working-class families. 

Segal, a Providence city councilor and state rep for Providence and East Providence, joins a field of candidates that already includes Providence Mayor David Cicilline and former state Democratic chair Bill Lynch. The three are running to fill the seat being vacated by Congressman Patrick Kennedy.

Segal, who is now 30, got his start in local politics in 2002 as a Green Party candidate for the Providence City Council and became the first Green Party candidate to win an election in Rhode Island.

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In 2006, he ran as a Democrat for state rep in District 2, handily winning the party primary with 68.6 percent of the vote and running unchallenged in the general election. He won the Democratic primary again in 2008 with 68.4 percent of the vote and was again unchallenged in the general election.

Segal held his inaugural campaign event at the Bank of American branch at 218 Taunton Ave. in East Providence.

“We need to do more for working families in Rhode Island,” Segal said. “For the last eight years, I’ve been fighting for regular people against powerful interests. Working with grassroots coalitions, we've won some important victories for local families. Now more than ever, Rhode Island working families need someone in Congress who will stand up to powerful interests and win victories for working families.”

As city councilor and state rep, Segal has backed laws on predatory lending, affordable housing, ethics reform, and campaign finance reform.