RI Political Diary: McKee v. Raimondo Approval, Cuervo Endorsed by Bell, Nurses Support McKee
GoLocalProv Political Team
RI Political Diary: McKee v. Raimondo Approval, Cuervo Endorsed by Bell, Nurses Support McKee
RI's Political Diary, exclusively from GoLocal, gives you up-to-date insights into the 2022 election.
Governor Dan McKee is ranked last among governors in the Morning Consult survey just a few weeks before the Democratic primary.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAnd in 2018, Gina Raimondo was pretty much in the same position. She had the 4th worst approval rating in the same survey.
Raimondo went on to win 57.2% of the vote in a three-way primary against Matt Brown (33.5%) and Spencer Dickinson (9.3%).
The survey, which one top national political pundit called brutally flawed.
In April of 2017, Jennifer Duffy of the Cook Report warned that the poll's methodology -- and flawed polls -- do a "disservice" to voters.
After the election and before she was selected to serve as U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Raimondo sank to the last rank of all the governors.
RI State Senator Samuel Bell has endorsed Gonzalo Cuervo for Mayor of Providence.
“Gonzalo Cuervo has spent his whole life fighting for the people of Providence. Everyone in our city deserves access to a quality education, a well-paying job, a safe neighborhood, and affordable housing. I know Gonzalo will fight for those causes, and I know he is the candidate best positioned to work with us in the General Assembly to deliver for Providence,” Bell said. "Cuervo's commitment to work with the Providence delegation to advocate for increased state investment will make a difference for our city's long-term fiscal solvency."
Bell represents District Five, which contains the neighborhoods of Mount Pleasant, Elmhurst, Federal Hill, Valley, and the northern part of the West End. Outside of the Senate, He is a planetary geologist with the Planetary Science Institute.
“I’m proud to have Senator Bell’s support. He has been an incisive, relentless advocate for the people of Providence. I’m glad to have him join the diverse, citywide coalition of leaders who have endorsed me, who believe in Providence as a dynamic city where anyone can afford to live and succeed. I know he’ll always provide me with his honest assessment of where the city can do better.” Cuervo said.
Senator Bell is the ninth serving elected official in Providence to endorse Cuervo for Mayor; he is the third of the city’s senators and the sixth member of Providence’s General Assembly delegation to endorse. Other General Assembly endorsers include senators Maryellen Goodwin (District 1 - Smith Hill) and Ana Quezada (District 2 - Elmwood), and state representatives Grace Diaz (District 11 - Elmwood and West End), Jose Batista (District 12 - Washington Park and South Providence), and Ramon Perez (District 13 - Silver Lake). Three Providence city councilors have endorsed Cuervo as well, councilors Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11 - South Providence, West End, and Elmwood), Kat Kerwin (Ward 12 - Smith Hill, Valley, and Elmhurst), and Rachel Miller (Ward 13 - Federal Hill and West End).
Friends of the Earth Action Endorses David Segal for Congress
David Segal was endorsed by Friends of the Earth Action for the Democratic primary for the second congressional district.
"David Segal has demonstrated his ability to lead on issues related to corporate greed, climate justice, and protecting the working class," Friends of the Earth Action said. "That’s why today, Friends of the Earth Action is proud to endorse him for the RI-02 Congressional race!"
“I’m honored to have earned Friends of the Earth Action's support — and the support of so many other leading environmentalist groups and figures, many of whom I've admired for decades,” said Segal.
“I’ve long helped to advance a pro-environment agenda — even when doing so has meant overcoming the opposition of large corporations and other powerful special interests. I'm proud of the mark my work as a lawmaker has left across Rhode Island's environment: from enabling wind turbines at Fields Point and across the state, to creating one of the largest community gardens in Providence, to helping lead opposition to environmentally destructive projects like generating power through trash incineration,” added Segal.
In Congress, I'll continue to prioritize expanding renewable energy, advocating for environmental justice, protecting open spaces, and combating climate change.
Segal has now been endorsed by Friends of the Earth Action, Food and Water Action, Center for Biological Diversity Action, Jane Fonda's Climate PAC, and 350.org founder Bill McKibben. He has been designated a Green New Deal Champion, and is the only candidate in the RI-2 race to have signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge.
David Segal is a former member of the Providence City Council and the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
The United Nurses and Allied Professionals, Rhode Island's largest health care workers' union representing more than 5,500 nurses and health professionals across Rhode Island, today endorsed Dan McKee for Governor.
“In less than a year and a half, Governor McKee has delivered big results for health care workers,” stated Lynn Blais, President of the UNAP. “He kept us and our patients safe during the worst of COVID by mandating the vaccine for health care workers. He’s made workplace development in the health care field a top priority, with a focus on alleviating hospital staffing issues, which have plagued us for years. He worked with General Assembly leaders to deliver real financial relief in the form of ARPA funding and increased Medicaid reimbursements for our hospitals, keeping them out of the hands of the for-profit vultures looking to make a profit at the expense of healthcare workers and patients. And his budget this year included major investments into the state-run Eleanor Slater Hospital, providing money for a new medical facility, upgrades to existing buildings and the development of a long-awaited electronic medical records system.”
Blais said, “Governor McKee has earned our endorsement through his actions to help not just nurses and health professionals, but the entire health care community in Rhode Island, and we look forward to supporting him in the Democratic Primary and beyond.”