Elections are held in Providence, Rhode Island to elect the city's mayor. Such elections are regularly scheduled to be held in United States midterm election years.
Elections before 1998
1998
The 1998 Providence, Rhode Island mayoral election was held on November 3, 1998. It saw the reelection of Buddy Cianci to sixth overall, and third consecutive, term. Cianci ran unchallenged.
2002
The 2002 Providence, Rhode Island mayoral election was held on November 5, 2002. It saw the election of Democratic nominee David Cicilline in a landslide victory.
Cicilline was openly gay. After Cicilline took office, Providence became the largest city in the United States at the time to have had an openly LGBTQ mayor (a distinction which had, beforehand, belonged to Tempe, Arizona since its election of Neil Giuliano).
Democratic primary The Democratic Party held its primary election on September 10, 2002.
Candidates David Cicilline, member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives since 1995 David V. Igliozzi, Rhode Island state senator and former Providence city councilor Kevin McKenna, attorney Joseph R. Paolino Jr., former mayor of Providence (1984–1991) and former United States ambassador to Malta (1994–1996)
Withdrew Thomas O'Connor
Polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DavidCicilline DavidIgliozzi KevinMcKenna Joseph R.Paolino Jr. Undecided ± 4.5% 50% 10% 4% 32% 4%
Campaigning David Ciciline and Kevin McKenna launched their campaigns prior to the June conviction of incumbent mayor Buddy Cianci, and criticized the disgraced mayor. Paolino and Igliozzi launched their candidacies after Cianci's conviction, and did not openly criticize Cianci. Igliozzi had once worked in the city's solicitor's office during Cianci's mayoralty.
Paloino pledged to revitalize blighted areas of the city by cleaning up their parks and schools, and by increasing community police officers.
Ciciline also advocated for the arts, and proposed making gallery and studio space available to more residents.
While Ciciline was openly gay, Paolino sought to challenge him for support of the city's gay voters.
Results
General election Candidates David Cicilline (Democrat), member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives since 1995 Greg Gerritt (Green) David Talin (Republican) Christopher Young (independent)
Withdrew Pat Cortelessa (independent) Robert Farrow (independent)
Campaigning It was anticipated that the winner of the Democratic Party primary would be the race's frontrunner in the strongly Democratic city's mayoral race.
The sexuality of Cecilline, vying to become the city's first openly homosexual mayor, was not a prominent issue in the campaign. Some in the gay community even criticized Cecilline, accusing him of downplaying his sexuality in order to appeal more broadly to voters.
Polls Throughout the campaign, Cecilline was a strong leader in polls.
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DavidCicilline (D) GregGerritt (G) DaveTalan (R) ChristopherYoung (i) Undecided Brown University September 14–22, 2002 506 LV ± 4% 70% 2% 4% 1% 23%
Results
2006
The 2006 Providence, Rhode Island mayoral election was held on November 7, 2006. It saw the reelection of incumbent Democrat David Cicilline.
Democratic primary The Democratic Party's primary election was held on September 12, 2006.
Candidates David Cicilline, incumbent mayor since 2003 Christopher F. Young, perennial candidate (including as the Reform nominee for United States Senate in 2000 and as a candidate for mayor in 2002)
Results
General election Cicilline faced Republican nominee Daniel S. Harrop III, who had previously run for state house in 2002 as a Libertarian and in 2004 as a Republican.
2010
The 2010 Providence, Rhode Island mayoral election was held on November 2, 2010. The election saw the election of Angel Taveras.
Taveras became the first Hispanic mayor of the city and the third elected and fourth serving Dominican-American mayor in the United States.
Incumbent David Cicilline did not seek reelection, instead opting to run in the coinciding election for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district. Cicilline was eligible to seek reelection to a third consecutive term as mayor, as term limits passed in 2006 (which limited mayors to two consecutive terms) would not go into effect until the following year.
Democratic primary Results
General election Results
2014
The 2014 Providence, Rhode Island mayoral election was held on November 4, 2014. The election saw the election of Jorge Elorza.
Incumbent Angel Taveras did not seek reelection, and instead (unsuccessfully) sought the Democratic nomination in the coinciding Rhode Island gubernatorial election.
Democratic primary The Democratic primary was held on September 9, 2014.
Results Despite still appearing on the ballot, Brett Smiley had withdrawn and endorsed Elorza before the primary was held.
General election The election pinned Democratic primary winner Jorge Elorza against former mayor Buddy Cianci, who was running as an independent, and Republican Daniel S. Harrop.
Elorza was endorsed by United States President Barack Obama.
On July 14, 2014, businessman Lorne Adrian withdrew his independent candidacy.
Independent candidate Jeffrey E. Lemire failed to get his name on the ballot.
Cianci had previously served as mayor from 1975–84 and 1991–2002, each time being ousted due to criminal convictions. A prominent issue was made of his past convictions. Cianci characterized Elorza as inexperienced, and called a possible return to the mayoralty for a third tenure as a "last rodeo" for himself.
Debate + 2014 Providence mayoral debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Independent RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Jorge Elorza Buddy Cianci Daniel Harrop1 Sep. 30, 2014 The Providence JournalWPRI-TV Tim White YouTube
Results
2018
The 2018 Providence, Rhode Island mayoral election was held on November 6, 2018. The election saw the reelection of Jorge Elorza.
Democratic primary On September 12, 2018, incumbent mayor Jorge Elorza won renomination by the Democratic Party, defeating challengers Kobi Dennis and Robert DeRobbio.
Elorza had been endorsed by the party organization ahead of the primary.
Polls Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LorneAdrian KobiDennis RobertDeRobbio JorgeElorza JohnLombardi Other Undecided John Zogby Strategies April 4–8, 2019424± 5% 6.5% 8.3% 5.4% 35.9% 18.3% 8.2% 17.3% – – – 45.8% 33.3% – –
Results
General election Results
2022
The 2022 Providence, Rhode Island mayoral election was held on November 8, 2022.
Since Providence limits mayors to two consecutive terms, incumbent mayor Jorge Elorza, a Democrat, was term-limited and thus could not run for reelection to a third consecutive term in office.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Brett Smiley, former Rhode Island director of administration and 2014 mayoral candidate
Eliminated in primary Gonzalo Cuervo, former deputy secretary of state and former chief of staff to Secretary of State of Rhode Island Nellie Gorbea Nirva LaFortune, Providence city councilor
Withdrew Michael Solomon, former Providence City Council president and 2014 mayoral candidate (endorsed Smiley)
Declined Lorne Adrian, businessman and 2014 independent mayoral candidate Dylan Conley, candidate for United States House of Representatives in 2020 Kobi Dennis, community activist and 2018 mayoral candidate Grace Diaz, Rhode Island state representative (endorsed Cuervo) Raymond Hull, Rhode Island state representative John Igliozzi, Providence City Council president John J. Lombardi, Rhode Island state representative, former acting mayor, and 2010 mayoral candidate David Salvatore, city councilor
Endorsements
Debate + 2022 Providence mayoral election Democratic primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Gonzalo Cuervo Nirva LaFortune Brett Smiley1 Aug. 23, 2022 WPRI-TV Steph MachadoTed NesiTim White YouTube
Results
General election Results
External links Official campaign websites Gonzalo Cuervo (D) for Mayor Nirva LaFortune (D) for Mayor Brett Smiley (D) for Mayor
2026
References