Robert Healey (Rhode Island)
Robert Healey was a Moderate Party candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in the 2014 elections.[1] Robert Healey (Rhode Island) lost the general election on November 4, 2014.
Healey was a 2010 Independent candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island.
Elections
2014
Healey ran for election to the office of Governor of Rhode Island.[1] The initial Moderate Party candidate, James Spooner, withdrew and Robert Healey was chosen by the Moderate Party as his successor. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Results
General election
| Governor of Rhode Island, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Gina Raimondo |
40.7% | 131,899 | |
| Republican | Allan Fung | 36.2% | 117,428 | |
| Moderate | Robert Healey | 21.4% | 69,278 | |
| Independent | Kate Fletcher | 1.1% | 3,483 | |
| Independent | Leon Kayarian | 0.4% | 1,228 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.2% | 739 | |
| Total Votes | 324,055 | |||
| Election results via State of Rhode Island | ||||
Race background
Unexpected results for Robert Healey
Moderate Party candidate Robert Healey received a higher-than-expected share of the vote on November 4. Pre-election polls projected Healey would receive around 9 percent of the vote. However, with 99 percent of precincts reporting, he received 21.4 percent, surpassing the 4.5 percent margin between the top two finishers. Healey's campaign relied on hand-painted signs and reported spending only $35 prior to the election. Healey had previously received 39.2 percent of the vote in the 2010 lieutenant gubernatorial race, though that contest included only one major-party candidate.[2]
Chafee's decision not to run
In October 2013, The Washington Post named the Democratic primary in the governor's race as one of the top 10 primaries of 2014.[3]
On May 30, 2013, Republican-turned-Independent Governor Lincoln Chafee formalized a change in his party affiliation, switching to the Democrats.[4][5] Before officially joining the Democratic Party on May 30, 2013, Chafee was the country's only sitting Independent governor.[6] He endorsed former U.S. Senate colleague President Obama in 2008 and 2012, but the main reason Chafee cited for changing to a major party affiliation was the need to finance a re-election campaign. "There is no independent governors association throwing money around ... but there is a Democratic Governors Association," he told The Associated Press in December 2012. Reaffirming his concerns, a report released by Governing in December 2012 named Chafee as one of five governors considered vulnerable to losing re-election in 2013-2014.[7]
Chafee was expected to seek re-election, but announced on September 4, 2013 that he would not run for a second term so that he could focus on governing instead. "I want to devote all my time, all my energy, to the task at hand," he stated.[8][9]
Money in the race
General election
Cash-on-hand
Fung reported $124,203 in contributions and $780,442 in expenditures from October 7 to 27 with $272,314 on hand by the end of October. Raimondo reported $469,625 in contributions and $770,712 in expenditures over the same period, with $32,557 in cash on hand. Fung's participation in the state's matching-funds program meant a contribution of $1.1 million from the state following the primary. Raimondo did not participate in the matching-funds initiative because she did not want to limit her spending during the election. She spent $5.4 million during the election cycle, including $5 million during the primary election, while Fung spent a total of $1.8 million.[10]
Outside spending
Outside groups associated with the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) and the Republican Governors Association (RGA) spent $849,000 on TV ads in late October. The DGA-backed Alliance for a Better Rhode Island and the RGA-funded Mid America Fund bought ads taking aim at Fung's record as mayor of Cranston and Raimondo's stance on taxes, respectively. By comparison, the candidates reported approximately $1.2 million cash on hand by early October.[11]
Primary election
Campaign finance reports detailing April 1 to June 30, 2013 were due July 31. They showed Gina Raimondo (D) with nearly $2.1 million cash on hand at the end of June. Among other potential candidates, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras reported a balance of $692,590, and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung showed $256,498 cash on hand. Moderate Party candidate Robert Healey reported $73,987.[12]
In February 2014, the three candidates in the Democratic primary began to work out a mutual agreement, which they called "People's Pledge," to limit outside funding for their campaigns.[13]
For the reporting period ending on March 31, 2014, Gina Raimondo had $3.3 million cash on hand, followed by fellow Democrats Clay Pell ($2 million on hand) and Angel Taveras ($1.4 million on hand). Republican Ken Block had $650,000 cash on hand, while his primary opponent Allan Fung had $450,000 on hand.[14]
Debates
Debate media
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October 21 debate
Gina Raimondo (D), Allan Fung (R) and Robert Healey (M) discussed job growth, healthcare and the state's loan to 38 Studios during a debate at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Raimondo argued on behalf of a proposed innovation institute that aimed to leverage the state's relationships with industry leaders and universities to generate new businesses. Fung countered that the state needed to cut taxes by $200 million and reduce barriers like the business corporation fee to spur job growth. Healey spoke generally about reducing regulations on businesses and cutting taxes, though neither Fung nor Healey indicated the source of proposed cuts.[15]
The candidates expressed differences of opinion when asked about the state's health exchange, HealthSource RI. Fung and Healey were optimistic that the exchange would work if control were given back to the federal government. Fung said that the state needed to trim "bells and whistles" from the program to keep costs low. Raimondo suggested licensing the state's healthcare services to neighboring states in order to make the program self-sufficient as required by federal law.[15]
Fung and Healey criticized the state's $75 million loan to video game company Studio 38, which entered bankruptcy in 2012. The company founded by ex-Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling received a loan from the state's Economic Development Corporation but did not repay the loan before closing. Both candidates suggested that a broad investigation should be completed before the state repays bondholders who funded the loan. Raimondo stated that while she shared the frustrations of her opponents over the circumstances, the bonds needed to be repaid to maintain the state's bond rating.[15][15]
Polls
General election
| Governor of Rhode Island, Raimondo, Fung and Healey | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Gina Raimondo (D) | Allan Fung (R) | Robert Healey (Moderate) | Other | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||
| Brown University October 25-26, 2014 | 38% | 37.4% | 11.8% | 0% | 11.2% | +/-4.4 | 500 | ||||||||||||
| Brown University October 14-17, 2014 | 41.6% | 30.5% | 9.1% | 0% | 18% | +/-2.9 | 1,129 | ||||||||||||
| WPRI 12/Providence Journal October 6-9, 2014 | 42% | 36% | 8% | 1% | 12% | +/-4.38 | 505 | ||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 40.53% | 34.63% | 9.63% | 0.33% | 13.73% | +/-3.89 | 711.33 | ||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Governor of Rhode Island, Raimondo vs. Fung | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Gina Raimondo (D) | Allan Fung (R) | Other/Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
| New York Times/CBS News/YouGov October 16-23, 2014 | 40% | 35% | 25% | +/-6 | 866 | ||||||||||||||
| New York Times/CBS News/YouGov September 20-October 1, 2014 | 41% | 38% | 21% | +/-4 | 724 | ||||||||||||||
| Rasmussen Reports September 23-25, 2014 | 42% | 37% | 21% | +/-4 | 750 | ||||||||||||||
| Taubman Center for Public Policy October 2-5, 2013 | 38% | 36% | 26% | +/-3.9 | 638 | ||||||||||||||
| Public Policy Polling January 23-30, 2013 | 46% | 27% | 27% | +/-4 | 614 | ||||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 41.4% | 34.6% | 24% | +/-4.38 | 718.4 | ||||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
Primary elections
Democratic primary
| Democratic primary, Four candidates, Governor of Rhode Island | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Gina Raimondo | Angel Taveras | Clay Pell | Todd Giroux | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||
| WPRI-TV/Providence Journal May 27-30, 2014 | 29% | 33% | 12% | 1.6% | 22% | +/-4.38 | 506 | ||||||||||||
| WPRI-TV/Providence Journal Feb. 3-6, 2014 | 27% | 31% | 15% | 1% | 25% | +/-4.38 | 503 | ||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 28% | 32% | 13.5% | 1.3% | 23.5% | +/-4.38 | 504.5 | ||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic primary, Three candidates, Governor of Rhode Island | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Gina Raimondo | Angel Taveras | Clay Pell | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | |||||||||||||
| Brown University April 3-5, 2014 | 29.4% | 25.8% | 9.6% | 35.2% | +/-4.9 | 395 | |||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic primary, Two candidates, Governor of Rhode Island | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Gina Raimondo | Angel Taveras | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
| Taubman Center for Public Policy Oct. 2-5, 2013 | 42.0% | 33.6% | 24.4% | +/-4.5 | 433 | ||||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
Republican primary
| Republican primary, Governor of Rhode Island | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Allen Fung | Ken Block | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
| Brown University April 3-5, 2014 | 31.4% | 36% | 32.6% | +/-10.6 | 86 | ||||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
2010
Healey faced Elizabeth Roberts (D) and Robert Venturini (I) in the general election on November 2, 2010, running on the Cool Moose Party line. Healey came second to Roberts, with almost 40% of the vote.[16]
| Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Elizabeth Roberts Incumbent |
54.5% | 175,640 | |
| Cool Moose | Robert Healey | 39.2% | 126,063 | |
| HWB | Robert Venturini | 6.3% | 20,295 | |
| Total Votes | 321,998 | |||
| Election results via Rhode Island Board of Elections | ||||
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Robert + Healey + Rhode + Island + Governor"
See also
External links
- Robert Healey on Twitter
- Votehealey.com 2010 Campaign website
The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine was used to recall this version of the website from August 20, 2010.
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Facebook, "Robert J. Healey for Governor, accessed September 15, 2014
- ↑ The Washington Post, "This Rhode Island governor candidate won 22 percent of the vote. He only spent $35.," November 5, 2014
- ↑ Washington Post, "The Fix’s top 10 primaries of 2014," October 4, 2013
- ↑ Boston.com, "RI Gov. Chafee poised to join Democrats," May 30, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ Politico, "Lincoln Chafee switches affiliation to Democrat," May 30, 2013
- ↑ Brown Political Review, "BPR Talks with Gov. Lincoln Chafee (Video)," May 22, 2013
- ↑ Governing Politics, "2013-2014 Governor's Races: Who's Vulnerable?" December 11, 2012
- ↑ The Associated Press, "RI Gov. Chafee open to running for 2nd term as Dem," December 14, 2012
- ↑ ABC News, "RI Gov. Lincoln Chafee Won't Run for 2nd Term," September 4, 2013
- ↑ WPRI, "Fung keeps big cash advantage over Raimondo," October 28, 2014
- ↑ WPRI, "Outside groups pouring big money into RI gov race," October 22, 2014
- ↑ Providence Journal, "Raimondo fundraising leads group of potential R.I. candidates for governor," August 1, 2013
- ↑ Rhode Island Public Radio, "Dem’s In RI Governor’s Racing Hammering Out A People’s Pledge," February 21, 2014
- ↑ Washington Times, "$9.8M raised for 2014 Rhode Island governor’s race," May 1, 2014
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 C-Span, "Rhode Island Gubernatorial Debate," October 21, 2014
- ↑ Rhode Island State Board of Elections, "2010 General Election: Lieutenant Governor," updated November 8, 2010 at 11:46, accessed November 15, 2010
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