Rhode Island: Filing Closes

​Now that the Rhode Island candidate filing deadline has passed, 48 of the 50 states have their political fields set for November.  Only Louisiana and Delaware, which set respective filing deadlines of July 10th and July 20th, remain outstanding.
 
Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) stands for a second term, and unfavorable job approval ratings, only winning with a plurality in 2014, and a stiff Democratic primary challenge places her re-election prospects in questionable status.
 
Her opponents include former Secretary of State Matt Brown, who is her serious Democratic primary challenger, and ex-state Rep. Spencer Dickinson.  Once coming through the September 12th Democratic primary, the nominee will likely face 2014 nominee Allan Fung, the Cranston Mayor who held Raimondo to a 41-36% win four years ago.  State House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan (R-West Warwick) and former state Sen. Giovanni Feroce round out the Republican field.  Five individuals are running as Independents or minor party candidates. 
 
The Rhode Island Governor’s race looks to be much more competitive than one would expect from such a strong Democratic state, but the New England states have a penchant for electing Republican Governors.  Despite only one Republican being elected to the House from all six states along with one US Senator (both from Maine), four domains have sitting GOP Governors.  Additionally, three of Rhode Island’s last six Governors have also been Republicans.