RI Political Diary: Neary Staying In, de la Cruz Out

RI Political Diary: Neary Staying In, de la Cruz Out

RI's Political Diary, exclusively from GoLocal, gives you up-to-date insights into the 2022 election.

 

Senator Jessica de la Cruz Quits Congressional Run

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Republican State Senator Jessica de la Cruz is quitting for bid for the GOP nomination for the second congressional seat.

“While I was encouraged by the strong grassroots support my campaign has received, right now, the best place for me to fight for Rhode Islanders is in the State Senate,” said de la Cruz.

“While I was encouraged by the strong grassroots support my campaign received, right now, the best place for me to fight for Rhode Islanders is in the State Senate. I am so proud that 96% of my donations were from right here in Rhode Island, which shows how much people responded to our message. However, there were an equal number of people who asked me to stay in the State Senate and continue supporting important causes like suspending the gas tax, parental rights in education, and our constitutional freedoms," she adds.

"After deep thought, prayer, and conversations with my family, I have decided to suspend my Congressional campaign. In my absence there remain two Republican candidates in the Congressional race.  I believe that Mayor Fung now represents the best chance for Rhode Island to send a Republican to Congress. He has my full endorsement," said de la Cruz.

 

In response to Senator de la Cruz suspending her campaign, Fung said, "I'm grateful for Senator de la Cruz's friendship, hard work in the Senate, and now endorsement of my Congressional campaign.  The two of us will work very hard together to elect more Republicans not only in the General Assembly, but in local races across the board.  I'm very much looking forward to working together with Rhode Islanders of every party to bring common sense solutions to DC and tackle some of our biggest challenges when I'm in Congress."

 

Neary Stays in the Race

 

Michael Neary, candidate for the Democratic nomination ran into serious legal problems in March in Ohio.

The Rhode Island congressional candidate was arrested on a "menacing" charge after a driver reported being followed for miles by Neary in Ohio.

Neary said Thursday, "I am announcing today that I will remain a candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination in Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District, all the way to the September primary.  I will always be an advocate on behalf of all our fellow Rhode Islanders. I know there are many questions surrounding recent news reports, and a full statement will be forthcoming in the coming days."

"Our campaign will also be planning to host a virtual conference to answer additional questions from members of the press at that time. I am currently seeking medical and mental health treatment and have been referred to a Neurologist for a possible non-Epileptic seizure-related condition. This is also the first time I have ever been arrested in my entire life, so I am also focused on addressing the Misdemeanor charges here in Ohio. Steps have been taken to retain legal counsel as those matters continue to be handled in our criminal justice system," added Neary.