Exclusive: GOP Candidate Doherty Voted Democratic Twice

Exclusive: GOP Candidate Doherty Voted Democratic Twice

Less than 24 hours after announcing his candidacy for Congress in Rhode Island’s 1st District, former State Police Supt. Col. Brendan Doherty is already facing questions about his affiliation with the Republican Party.

According to information obtained by GoLocalProv, Doherty voted in Democratic Primaries in both 2006 and 2008 before making the switch to voting in the Republican Primary last November.

Campaign spokesperson Dante Bellini said Doherty recalls voting in previous Democratic primaries for certain local candidates, but voted in the Republican primary in 2010. He would not name the Democrats Doherty has voted for.

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Doherty made his announcement in front of hundreds of supporters at Imperial Packaging in Pawtucket yesterday, billing himself as a man with “common sense” and “uncommon integrity.” His message was one of a candidate willing to stand above the fray in partisan politics.

“Rhode Island needs Congressional representation with uncompromising strength and integrity, untainted by scandal and owing no party or person anything,” Doherty said. “That’s me. I believe my fresh and untainted perspective separates me from others whose vision has been blurred by partisan obligations and personal ambition.”