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Rhode Island State Senate District 6

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Rhode Island State Senate District 6
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 5, 2021

Rhode Island State Senate District 6 is represented by Tiara Mack (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Rhode Island state senators represented an average of 28,899 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 27,770 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Rhode Island State Senate serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Rhode Island legislators assume office the first Tuesday in January.[1]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

A candidate for the Rhode Island General Assembly must:[2]

  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Be a registered voter
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a state resident for at least 30 days preceding the election
  • Be a resident of the district the candidate is running to represent


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[3]
SalaryPer diem
$19,037/yearNo per diem is paid.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Rhode Island General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The secretary of state must call for an election to be held anywhere from 70 to 90 days after the vacancy occurred. No election can be held if the vacancy happens after the first Monday in February during an election year. The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.[4]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Rhode Island Gen. Laws § 17-3-6


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Rhode Island after the 2020 census

Rhode Island enacted new legislative district boundaries on February 16, 2022, when Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed redistricting legislation approved by the General Assembly. The State House of Representatives passed the new maps by a vote of 57-6 and the State Senate approved them, 29-9, on February 15, 2022. In a press release issued after Gov. McKee signed the legislation, State Representative Robert Phillips (D), co-chair of the state's legislative Reapportionment Commission, said, "It was an honor and pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of individuals on this commission. I’m particularly proud of the fact that we obtained so much input from citizens around the state, holding our meetings in several cities and towns to make it more accessible to everyone. Reapportionment can be daunting and complex, but I’m glad we took everyone’s concerns into account and came up with a fair and equitable system of reapportionment.”[5][6][7][8]

The Providence Journal's Patrick Anderson and Katherine Gregg wrote "Although some district boundaries changed a lot, the new maps did not put any incumbent General Assembly members in the same district, forcing them to run against each other. But the maps did draw some would-be challengers out of their current districts, potentially protecting incumbents from a tough reelection battle.[9] Edward Fitzpatrick of the Boston Globe wrote that "critics have said both Democratic and Republican incumbents were allowed to shape their districts during private meetings with the state’s long-time redistricting consultant."[10]

How does redistricting in Rhode Island work? In Rhode Island, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Rhode Island General Assembly. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[11]

An 18-member advisory commission established in 2011 can recommend congressional and state legislative redistricting plans to the state legislature. The legislature may "adopt, modify, or ignore the commission's proposals." The composition of the commission is as follows:[11]

  1. The majority leader of the Rhode Island State Senate chooses four commissioners who are state legislators and three who are not, for a total of seven commissioners.
  2. The majority leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives chooses four commissioners who are state legislators and three who are not, for a total of seven commissioners.
  3. The minority leader of the Rhode Island State Senate chooses two commissioners who are state legislators.
  4. The minority leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives chooses two commissioners who are state legislators.

The Rhode Island Constitution requires that state legislative districts be compact.[11]

State statutes require that congressional and state legislative districts meet the following criteria:[11]

  1. Districts should be contiguous.
  2. Districts should "reflect natural, historical, geographical, and municipal and other political lines, 'as well as the right of all Rhode Islanders to fair representation and equal access to the political process.'"
  3. "The lines of state House, state Senate and congressional districts [should] coincide–or at least, if they do not overlap completely, they should avoid creating voting precincts with distinct ballot options where the precinct has fewer than 100 people."

Rhode Island State Senate District 6
until January 2, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Rhode Island State Senate District 6
starting January 3, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Incumbent Tiara Mack won election in the general election for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tiara Mack
Tiara Mack (D)
 
96.5
 
6,469
 Other/Write-in votes
 
3.5
 
236

Total votes: 6,705
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Incumbent Tiara Mack advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on September 10, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tiara Mack
Tiara Mack
 
100.0
 
980

Total votes: 980
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2022

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Incumbent Tiara Mack defeated Adriana Bonilla in the general election for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tiara Mack
Tiara Mack (D)
 
84.2
 
3,521
Adriana Bonilla (R)
 
15.1
 
630
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.7
 
30

Total votes: 4,181
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Incumbent Tiara Mack defeated Joseph Almeida in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on September 13, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tiara Mack
Tiara Mack
 
56.0
 
1,540
Image of Joseph Almeida
Joseph Almeida
 
44.0
 
1,210

Total votes: 2,750
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Adriana Bonilla advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on September 13, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Adriana Bonilla
 
100.0
 
70

Total votes: 70
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Tiara Mack defeated Kevin Gilligan in the general election for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tiara Mack
Tiara Mack (D) Candidate Connection
 
88.8
 
6,723
Kevin Gilligan (Independent)
 
10.3
 
781
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.9
 
71

Total votes: 7,575
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Tiara Mack defeated incumbent Harold Metts in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on September 8, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tiara Mack
Tiara Mack Candidate Connection
 
59.8
 
1,506
Image of Harold Metts
Harold Metts
 
40.2
 
1,011

Total votes: 2,517
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

General election

General election for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Incumbent Harold Metts won election in the general election for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Harold Metts
Harold Metts (D)
 
97.2
 
5,473
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.8
 
160

Total votes: 5,633
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6

Incumbent Harold Metts defeated Jonathan Hernandez and Carlos Cedeno in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 on September 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Harold Metts
Harold Metts
 
52.6
 
1,676
Jonathan Hernandez
 
26.5
 
844
Carlos Cedeno
 
21.0
 
669

Total votes: 3,189
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2016

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 29, 2016.

Incumbent Harold Metts defeated Russell Hryzan in the Rhode Island State Senate District 6 general election.[12][13]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 6 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Harold Metts Incumbent 86.86% 6,383
     Independent Russell Hryzan 13.14% 966
Total Votes 7,349
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections


Incumbent Harold Metts defeated Jonathan Hernandez in the Rhode Island State Senate District 6 Democratic primary.[14][15]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 6 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Harold Metts Incumbent 59.68% 1,057
     Democratic Jonathan Hernandez 40.32% 714
Total Votes 1,771


2014

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 25, 2014. Incumbent Harold Metts defeated Mario Mancebo in the Democratic primary. Russell Hryzan ran as an Independent candidate. Kendre Rodriguez (I) was removed from the ballot before the primary. Metts defeated Hryzan in the general election.[16][17][18]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 6, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHarold Metts Incumbent 87.2% 4,283
     Independent Russell Hryzan 12.8% 630
Total Votes 4,913
Rhode Island State Senate, District 6 Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngHarold Metts Incumbent 70.2% 2,050
Mario Mancebo 29.8% 872
Total Votes 2,922

2012

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 11, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 27, 2012. Incumbent Harold Metts (D) defeated Russell Hyrzan (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[19][20]

Rhode Island State Senate, District 6, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngHarold Metts Incumbent 91.8% 6,294
     Republican Russell Hryzan 7.8% 532
     Other Other 0.5% 31
Total Votes 6,857

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Rhode Island State Senate District 6 raised a total of $330,681. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $11,810 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Rhode Island State Senate District 6
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $26,126 1 $26,126
2022 $65,332 3 $21,777
2020 $67,628 2 $33,814
2018 $37,784 3 $12,595
2016 $32,386 3 $10,795
2014 $19,420 3 $6,473
2012 $10,250 2 $5,125
2010 $5,130 2 $2,565
2008 $11,072 2 $5,536
2006 $9,050 1 $9,050
2004 $32,603 4 $8,151
2002 $13,900 1 $13,900
2000 $0 1 $0
Total $330,681 28 $11,810


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Rhode Island Constitution, "Article VI, Section 3," accessed February 17, 2021
  2. Rhode Island Secretary of State, "Are You Eligible?" accessed May 23, 2025
  3. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  4. Rhode Island General Laws, "Title 17 Elections; Chapter 3 General Assembly Members; § 17-3-6. Vacancy in general assembly — Special elections," accessed February 3, 2023
  5. State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "Bill to reapportion House, Senate, congressional districts signed into law," accessed February 18, 2022
  6. State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "2022 House Journals - February 15th," accessed February 18, 2022
  7. State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "House Floor Votes for 2/15/2022," accessed February 18, 2022
  8. State of Rhode Island General Assembly, "Legislative Status Report - Senate Bill No. 2162 SUB A as amended," accessed February 18, 2022
  9. The Providence Journal, "Redistricting maps: General Assembly approves new Rhode Island political boundaries," February 15, 2022
  10. Boston Globe, "Assembly votes for final House, Senate, congressional maps," February 15, 2022
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 All About Redistricting, "Rhode Island," accessed May 7, 2015
  12. Rhode Island Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Search," accessed October 5, 2016
  13. Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2016 general election results," accessed January 19, 2017
  14. Rhode Island Secretary of State, "2016 Candidate Search," accessed June 30, 2016
  15. Rhode Island Board of Elections, "2016 Statewide Primary," accessed October 14, 2016
  16. Rhode Island Secretary of State, "Candidates for Senator in General Assembly," accessed June 30, 2014
  17. Rhode Island Secretary of State, "2014 Statewide Primary Results: Senator in General Assembly," accessed September 26, 2014
  18. Rhode Island Board of Elections, "Official 2014 general election results," accessed December 4, 2014
  19. "Rhode Island Secretary of State - Official General Election Results," accessed October 30, 2013
  20. "Rhode Island Secretary of State - Official Primary Election Results," accessed October 30, 2013


Current members of the Rhode Island State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:Valarie Lawson
Majority Leader:Frank Ciccone
Minority Leader:Jessica de la Cruz
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
Sam Bell (D)
District 6
District 7
District 8
Lori Urso (D)
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Dawn Euer (D)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
Democratic Party (34)
Republican Party (4)