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Rhode Island Attorney General election, 2018 (September 12 Republican primary)

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Rhode Island Attorney General
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: June 27, 2018
Primary: September 12, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent(s):
Peter Kilmartin (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Rhode Island
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Rhode Island
executive elections
Governor

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Attorney general
Secretary of state
Treasurer

A Republican Party primary election was scheduled to take place on September 12, 2018 in Rhode Island to determine which candidate would run as the party's nominee in the state's November 6, 2018, attorney general election. No candidates filed to run.



For more information about attorney general elections in 2018, click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the 2018 election, the sitting attorney general was Peter Kilmartin (D), who was first elected in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Kilmartin was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term in 2018.
  • In 2018 Rhode Island was under a Democratic trifecta. It had held this status since 2013, when former Gov. Lincoln Chafee joined the Democratic Party. Rhode Island was also a Democratic triplex.
  • Rhode Island was won by the Democratic candidate in each of the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016. The widest margin of victory was Al Gore's 29 percent margin in 2000, while the narrowest was Hillary Clinton's 16 percent margin in 2016.

    • Candidates and election results

    Context of the 2018 election

    Past elections

    2014

    See also: Rhode Island attorney general election, 2014

    Dawson Hodgson was unopposed in the 2014 Republican primary election.[1]

    Voter information

    How the primary works

    A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.

    Rhode Island utilizes a semi-closed primary system. Unaffiliated voters may vote in a party's primary without affiliating with that party. Voters that are affiliated with a party at the time of the primary election may only vote in that party's primary.[2][3][4]

    For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

    Poll times

    Polls in Rhode Island open at 7 a.m. Eastern Time except in New Shoreham, where they open at 9 a.m. All polls statewide close at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[5]

    Registration requirements

    Check your voter registration status here.

    To register to vote in Rhode Island, an applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Rhode Island, and at least 16 years old. To voter, one must be at least 18 years old by Election Day.[6] Applicants can register online, by mailing in a voter registration form, or in person at the local board of canvassers or other state agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Human Services, or the Department of Mental Health.[6]

    Automatic registration

    See also: Automatic voter registration

    Rhode Island enacted automatic voter registration in 2017.[7]

    Online registration

    See also: Online voter registration

    Rhode Island has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

    Same-day registration

    See also: Same-day voter registration
    “ Rhode Island allows for same day voter registration for the Presidential Election only. If you miss the voter registration deadline, you can register to vote on Election Day, but you will only be able to vote for President and Vice President. You will not be able to vote in any state, local, or other federal races. You can only register and vote on Election Day at the location designated by your local board of canvassers.[6][8] ”

    Residency requirements

    To register to vote in Rhode Island, you must be a resident of the state.

    Verification of citizenship

    See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

    Rhode Island does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

    All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[9] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

    Verifying your registration

    The Rhode Island Department of State allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

    Voter ID requirements

    Rhode Island requires voters to present photo identification (ID) while voting. Accepted forms of ID include a Rhode Island driver's license, Rhode Island voter ID card, and U.S. passport. For a list of all accepted forms of ID, see below.

    The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Rhode Island Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

    “
    • RI Driver's License or Permit
    • RI Voter ID Card *
    • U.S. Passport
    • ID issued by a U.S. educational institution
    • U.S. military ID
    • ID card issued by the United States or the State of Rhode Island
    • Government issued medical card
    • Tribal ID[8]
    		 ”
    • *The Rhode Island Secretary of State's office is issuing free voter photo ID cards to individuals who do not possess any of the valid Photo IDs listed above. For additional information, visit Rhode Island's online Voter Information Center, call 401-222-2340, or email elections@sos.ri.gov.

    Early voting

    Rhode Island permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

    Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

    Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

    Absentee voting

    All Rhode Island voters are eligible to vote absentee/by mail.[10]

    Absentee ballot applications must be received by your local board of canvassers by 4 p.m. 21 days prior to the election. Completed absentee ballots must then be received by your local board of canvassers by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Should circumstances arise within 20 days of an election that will prevent a voter from making it to the polls on Election Day, he or she may qualify for an emergency mail ballot. More information regarding the emergency mail ballot process can be found here.[10][11][12]


    State overview

    Partisan control

    This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Rhode Island heading into the 2018 elections.

    Congressional delegation

    State executives

    State legislature

    • Democrats controlled both chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly. They had a 64-11 majority in the state House and a 33-4 majority in the state Senate.

    Trifecta status

    • Rhode Island was under a Democratic state government trifecta, meaning Democrats held the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house.

    2018 elections

    See also: Rhode Island elections, 2018

    Rhode Island held elections for the following positions in 2018:

    Demographics

    Demographic data for Rhode Island
     Rhode IslandU.S.
    Total population:1,055,607316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):1,0343,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:81.1%73.6%
    Black/African American:6.5%12.6%
    Asian:3.2%5.1%
    Native American:0.5%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
    Two or more:2.8%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:13.6%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:86.2%86.7%
    College graduation rate:31.9%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$56,852$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:17.3%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Rhode Island.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

    As of July 2016, Rhode Island's three largest cities were Providence (pop. est. 180,000), Cranston (pop. est. 81,000), and Warwick (pop. est. 81,000).[13]

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Rhode Island from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Rhode Island State Board of Elections.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Rhode Island every year from 2000 to 2016.

    Election results (President of the United States), Rhode Island 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 54.4% Republican Party Donald Trump 38.9% 15.5%
    2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 62.7% Republican Party Mitt Romney 35.2% 27.5%
    2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 62.9% Republican Party John McCain 35.1% 27.8%
    2004 Democratic Party John Kerry 59.4% Republican Party George W. Bush 38.7% 20.7%
    2000 Democratic Party Al Gore 61.0% Republican Party George W. Bush 31.9% 29.1%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Rhode Island from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Rhode Island 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Democratic Party John Reed 70.6% Republican Party Mark Zaccaria 29.3% 41.3%
    2012 Democratic Party Sheldon Whitehouse 64.8% Republican Party Barry Hinckley 35.0% 29.8%
    2008 Democratic Party John Reed 73.1% Republican Party Bob Tingle 26.5% 46.6%
    2006 Democratic Party Sheldon Whitehouse 53.4% Republican Party Lincoln Chafee 46.3% 7.1%
    2002 Democratic Party John Reed 78.4% Republican Party Bob Tingle 21.6% 56.8%
    2000 Republican Party Lincoln Chafee 56.9% Democratic Party Robert Weygand 41.2% 15.7%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Rhode Island.

    Election results (Governor), Rhode Island 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Democratic Party Gina Raimondo 40.7% Republican Party Allan Fung 36.2% 4.5%
    2010 Grey.png Lincoln Chafee 36.1% Republican Party John Robitaille 33.6% 2.5%
    2006 Republican Party Don Carcieri 51.0% Democratic Party Charles Forgerty 48.9% 2.1%
    2002 Republican Party Don Carcieri 54.8% Democratic Party Myrth York 45.2% 9.6%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Rhode Island in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Rhode Island 2000-2016
    Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
    2016 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2
    2014 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2
    2012 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2
    2010 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2
    2008 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2
    2006 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2
    2004 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2
    2002 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2
    2000 Democratic Party 2 100.0% Democratic Party 0 0.0% D+2

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    Rhode Island Party Control: 1992-2025
    Sixteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
    Governor D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R I I D D D D D D D D D D D D D
    Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
    House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D


    Pivot Counties

    See also: Pivot Counties by state

    One of five Rhode Island counties—20 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Kent County, Rhode Island 0.67% 17.74% 17.40%

    In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Rhode Island with 54.4 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 38.9 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Rhode Island cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 73.3 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Rhode Island supported Democratic candidates for president more often than Republican candidates, 66.7 to 33.3 percent. The state favored Democrats in every election between between 2000 and 2016.

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Rhode Island. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[14][15]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 73 out of 75 state House districts in Rhode Island with an average margin of victory of 33.4 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 57 out of 75 state House districts in Rhode Island with an average margin of victory of 30.4 points. Clinton won three districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won two out of 75 state House districts in Rhode Island with an average margin of victory of 5.5 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 18 out of 75 state House districts in Rhode Island with an average margin of victory of 11.1 points. Trump won 11 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


    See also

    Rhode Island government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ State of Rhode Island, "2014 Statewide Primary," September 26, 2014
    2. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 22, 2024
    3. ↑ Bill Track 50, "RI H7662," accessed July 21, 2024
    4. ↑ State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "R.I. Gen. Laws § 17–9.1-23 ," accessed July 22, 2024
    5. ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Election Day Voting Hours," accessed September 24, 2024
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Rhode Island Department of State, "Register to Vote," accessed April 18, 2023
    7. ↑ Providence Journal, “Raimondo signs automatic voter registration bill into law,” August 1, 2017
    8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    9. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote from Home with a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
    11. ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Apply for a Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
    12. ↑ Rhode Island Department of State, "Vote by Emergency Mail Ballot," accessed April 18, 2023
    13. ↑ Rhode Island Demographics, "Rhode Island Cities by Population," accessed September 8, 2018
    14. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
    15. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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