Trump Can Expand GOP Like Reagan Did, Says Former RI Party Chair and Mayor

Trump Can Expand GOP Like Reagan Did, Says Former RI Party Chair and Mayor

J. Michael Levesque is one of the most experienced politicians in Rhode Island. He is one of those rare officials who has held nearly every high-level position—he served as Mayor of West Warwick, chair of the Rhode Island Republican Party, and ran for governor.

Levesque had ties to both Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush’s administrations.

He thinks Trump's win resets the political table both nationally and in Rhode Island.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

“I think Trump did what Reagan did really and expanded the Republican party. Now, we've made gains with blacks, Asians, union folks, and youth, where the Democrats have really have contracted, and why? Because they are controlled now [by] coastal elites and Hollywood blowhards on the far left," said Levesque.

Levesque admits that the times have changed but says a Trump “mandate” gives the Rhode Island Republican Party the opportunity to reverse course.

Today, all four members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation and all five members of the statewide officers are Democrats.

Locally, the numbers aren’t much better.

 

 

Reagan Expansion

“You know, it's a much different party than what Ronald Reagan brought in during the 80s, but it's an expanding party and with great opportunity for expansion in Rhode Island as well. I really think that. Everybody said what's the magic, well there is no magic, it's you have to outsmart, you have to outspend, and you have to out-hustle the other side,” said Levesque.

As one of the top young GOP leaders in Rhode Island pointed out after the election, Trump made significant inroads in many Democratic strongholds.

“Republicans made inroads across Rhode Island. In 2016, Donald Trump received 13.8% in Providence and 15.5% in Central Falls. In 2020, Donald Trump received 17.8% in Providence and 26.1% in Central Falls. In 2024, Trump received 23.1% in Providence and 34.5% in Central Falls, highlighting Republican advances and progress in Democratic strongholds in Rhode Island. I believe we can look to build off this momentum going into 2026.” said Kenneth Naylor, President of the Rhode Island Young Republicans. “If we can get a real candidate with credibility, I believe we can also see Rhode Island back in play as a top national competitive race.”

 

Opportunity for GOP in Rhode Island

Levesque said, “There's an opportunity now; that's the moral of the story, there is a big opportunity for the Republican Party to re-emerge in Rhode Island."

 

Expanding Hispanic Support

"When I did work for Reagan, when I was United States commissioner for employment policy, one of our big jobs was expanding to the Hispanic community," said Levesque. "So Reagan was very farsighted on that. And we had big programs to reach out to the Hispanic community, and they're now looming...they're now a big part of this expansion [of the GOP]."

Levesque served in the position both under Reagan and Bush.

 

Trump Appointees

Levesque is positive about the Trump appointments.

“I see you already the concerted effort by the other side to just complain heavily about some of these appointments, but [there are ones] like Marco Rubio, Tom Holman, Pete Hegseth, and Kristy Noem,” said Levesque.

“I mean, there's a lot of terrific appointments that he is sending to the Senate, and they're disruptors, they're all disruptors, and that's what people voted for him for,” he added.

 

Rebuilding in Rhode Island

Levesque said Rhode Island Republicans "need help."

"Well, you know, Joe Powers is a very talented chairman. He's a great guy, but he needs help," said Levesque. "He needs a lot of people to help, and you know now that President Trump is in. He's going to have some unique abilities to bring some of the top-level people in for fundraisers, start raising some money, start getting some excitement, and he will be able to do what we go to the gold standard of chairman."

 

Aggressive

Levesque says the RIGOP needs to be aggressive in public relations and increase the amount of earned media.

“You got to create the excitement. How do you rebuild then the base? Activism at the local levels,” said Levesque.