Rhode Island Secretary of State election, 2010
The Rhode Island Secretary of State election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. Following a primary election on September 14, 2010, Democratic incumbent Ralph Mollis defeated Republican challenger Catherine Terry Taylor in the general election.
On September 14, 2010, Mollis won his party's primary election over then-State Senator Leonidas Raptakis. Taylor ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Mollis first won election as the state's secretary of state in 2006. He was challenged in the state's Democratic primary by Guillaume de Ramel and defeated him 42,385 (53.1%) votes to 37,425 (46.9%) votes.[1] In the 2006 general election contest, Mollis faced Republican challenger Sue A. Stenhouse, winning by 200,058 (53.6%) votes to 173,490 (46.4%) votes.[2]
General election campaign
Results
On November 2, 2010, A. Ralph Mollis won re-election to the office of Rhode Island Secretary of State. He defeated Catherine Terry Taylor (R) in the general election.
| Rhode Island Secretary of State, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  A. Ralph Mollis Incumbent |
50.6% | 166,140 | |
| Republican | Catherine Terry Taylor | 49.4% | 162,283 | |
| Total Votes | 328,423 | |||
| Election results via Rhode Island Board of Elections. | ||||
Finances
According to the Rhode Island State Board of Elections, as of October 28, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Ralph Mollis Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [3] | Public Funds | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| October 5 - October 25, 2010[4] | October 26, 2010 | $222,913.69 | $10,150.00 | $0.00 | $31,655.00 | $162,425.76 | $102,292.93 | |
| September 7 - October 4, 2010[5] | October 5, 2010 | $11,592.43 | $3,160.00 | $0.00 | $231,095.00 | $22,933.74 | $222,913.69 | |
| Catherine Terry Taylor Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [3] | Public Funds | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| October 5 - October 25, 2010[6] | October 26, 2010 | $185,089.77 | $15,975.00 | $0.00 | $46,500.00 | $217,248.40 | $30,316.37 | |
| June 28 - October 4, 2010[7] | October 5, 2010 | $0.00 | $74,947.00 | $500.00 | $129,368.00 | $19,225.23 | $185,089.77 | |
Debate
On Monday, October 18, 2010, Mollis and Taylor squared off in a public debate. Click here to read more about the debate.
Polling
- See also: Polls, 2010 Secretaries of State
Brown University Poll
Researchers at the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and American Institutions and the John Hazen White Public Opinion Laboratory at Brown University surveyed 565 registered voters (not likely voters) from across Rhode Island between September 27 and 29, 2010. The polling data showed that in the race for Secretary of State, Democratic incumbent Ralph Mollis held a commanding lead over his Republican opponent, Catherine Terry Taylor. Still, nearly one-third of those interviewed remained uncommitted to either candidate with only four weeks left until the general election. Numbers also showed that thirty-one percent surveyed felt that Mollis doing an excellent or good job as Secretary of State.
| Brown University Poll - September 27 - 29, 2010[8] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Percentage | |||
 Ralph Mollis (D)
|
39.1% | |||
| Catherine Terry Taylor (R) | 28.3% | |||
| Undecided | 32.6% | |||
| Total voters | 565 | |||
September 14, 2010 primary elections
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Incumbent Ralph Mollis[9]
- State Senator Leonidas Raptakis[10]
Primary results
| 2010 Race for Secretary of State - Democratic Primary[11] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party |  A. Ralph Mollis
|
63.3% | |
| Democratic Party | Leonidas Raptakis | 36.7% | |
| Total Votes | 90,988 | ||
Commercials
Endorsements
- Carpenters Local 94[12]
- Rhode Island AFL-CIO[13][14]
- Rhode Island Democratic Party[15]
- Rhode Island Latino PAC[16]
Finances
According to the Rhode Island State Board of Elections, as of September 8, 2010, the following was the breakdown of campaign finances for each of the candidates:
| Ralph Mollis Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [3] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| August 17 - September 6, 2010[17] | September 7, 2010 | $53,831.35 | $20,415.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $62,653.92 | $11,592.43 | |
| July 1 - August 16, 2010[18] | August 17, 2010 | $70,815.51 | $6,645.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $23,629.16 | $53,831.35 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[19] | August 2, 2010 | $79,755.99 | $20,175.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $29,115.48 | $70,815.51 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[20] | April 29, 2010 | $50,465.44 | $47,650.42 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $18,359.87 | $79,755.99 | |
| October 1 - December 31, 2009[21] | January 26, 2010 | $16,161.16 | $39,425.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $5,120.72 | $50,465.44 | |
| July 1 - September 30, 2009[22] | November 19, 2009 | $19,808.18 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3,647.02 | $16,161.16 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2009[23] | July 31, 2009 | $3,532.14 | $21,365.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $5,088.96 | $19,808.18 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2009[24] | April 30, 2009 | $9,251.88 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $5,719.74 | $3,532.14 | |
| Leonidus P. Raptakis Campaign Finance Reports | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Contributions | In-Kind [3] | Other Sources | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | |
| August 17 - September 6, 2010[25] | September 7, 2010 | $21,643.99 | $14,390.00 | $0.00 | $2,000.00 | $30,327.72 | $7,706.27 | |
| July 1 - August 16, 2010[26] | August 16, 2010 | $29,895.25 | $8,360.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $16,611.26 | $21,643.99 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2010[27] | July 24, 2010 | $24,594.79 | $30,785.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $25,484.54 | $29,895.25 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2010[28] | April 30, 2010 | $17,561.15 | $29,600.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $22,566.36 | $24,594.79 | |
| October 1 - December 31, 2009[29] | May 3, 2010 | $36,989.13 | $21,750.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $36,002.98 | $22,736.15 | |
| July 1 - September 30, 2009[30] | March 5, 2010 | $35,565.33 | $14,325.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $12,901.20 | $36,989.13 | |
| April 1 - June 30, 2009[31] | July 27, 2009 | $5,592.39 | $43,282.00 | $1,025.00 | $0.00 | $13,309.06 | $35,565.33 | |
| January 1 - March 31, 2009[32] | May 7, 2009 | $6,948.83 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1,356.44 | $5,592.39 | |
Republican primary
Candidates
Electoral results
- Catherine Terry Taylor ran unopposed in this contest.
General Election campaign
Commercials
Endorsements
- Providence Journal, local newspaper[34]
- Providence Phoenix, local newspaper[35]
External links
- List of candidates qualified for Rhode Island's September 14 Secretary of State primary
- Green Paper's list of candidates for Rhode Island Secretary of State, 2010
General Election candidates
- Mollis for Rhode Island Secretary of State Campaign website
- Catherine Taylor for Rhode Island Secretary of State Campaign website
Former candidates
Footnotes
- ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections - 2006 Democratic Primary Election Results
- ↑ Rhode Island Board of Elections - 2006 General Election Results
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 As these are not cash contributions, they are not reflected in the reported ending balance.
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 7 Days Before General Election 2010 Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 28 Days Before General Election 2010 Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Catherine Terry Taylor 7 Days Before Election 2010 Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Catherine Terry Taylor 28 Days Before Election 2010 Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ Brown University, "Caprio, Cicilline and Langevin lead R.I. races" 5 Oct. 2010
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "R.I. politicians planning ahead" 12 May, 2009
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "R.I. Sen. Leonidas Raptakis to run for secretary of state" 9 Jan. 2010
- ↑ Rhode Island State Board of Elections - 2010 Primary Election Results
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "Carpenters union endorses Chafee, slew of Democrats" 3 Sept. 2010
- ↑ Providence County Elections 2010 Examiner, "Ralph Mollis endorsed by Rhode Island AFL-CIO" 5 Aug. 2010
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "R.I. Campaign Digest: Mollis gains AFL-CIO endorsement" 6 Aug. 2010
- ↑ WPRI Eyewitness News, "RI Democrats endorse Caprio, Cicilline" 29 June, 2010
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "Rhode Island Latino PAC endorses 19 candidates" 3 Aug. 2010
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 7 Days Before Primary 2010 Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 28 Days Before Primary 2010 Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 2010 On-Going Quarterly (2nd) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 2010 On-Going Quarterly (1st) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 2009 On-Going Quarterly (4th) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 2009 On-Going Quarterly (3rd) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 2009 On-Going Quarterly (2nd) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Ralph Mollis 2009 On-Going Quarterly (1st) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Leonidus Raptakis 7 Days Before Primary 2010 Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Leonidus Raptakis 28 Days Before Primary 2010 Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Leonidus Raptakis 2010 On-Going Quarterly (2nd) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Leonidus Raptakis 2010 On-Going Quarterly (1st) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Leonidus Raptakis 2009 On-Going Quarterly (4th) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Leonidus Raptakis 2009 On-Going Quarterly (3rd) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Leonidus Raptakis 2009 On-Going Quarterly (2nd) Report Summary (dead link)
- ↑ State of Rhode Island Board of Elections - Leonidus Raptakis 2009 On-Going Quarterly (1st) Report Summary
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "Edward Fitzpatrick: She’s on the verge of ‘taking the plunge" 24 June, 2010
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "Editorial: Re-elect Ralph Mollis" 27 Oct. 2010
- ↑ Providence Phoenix, "Why Lincoln Chafee deserves your vote" 27 Oct. 2010
