Affordable RI celebrates four general election wins
From an Affordable RI press release, SteveAhlquist.news
Affordable RI
celebrated a successful November 3 general election, with all four of its
priority candidates winning their races: Megan Cotter in House District
39, Nelly Burdette in Senate District 17, Veronicka Vega in House
District 49, and Zakary Pereira in House District 22. In addition to
supporting the election of Amy Santiago in House District 7 in the
primary.
The four victories reflect growing support for leaders who
put affordability, economic fairness, and opportunity at the center of their
campaigns. Together, these candidates are committed to addressing the rising
cost of living and making Rhode Island a place where working people can afford
to live, raise a family, and build a future.
“Working Rhode Islanders deserve a state where they can afford their homes, access quality healthcare, and build a secure future for their families,” said Jesse Martin, Chair of Affordable RI. “These four candidates ran on the issues that matter most to people’s everyday lives. Their victories show that there is real momentum behind an agenda that puts working people first.”
While each candidate brought their own experiences and
priorities to the campaign, all four shared a commitment to making Rhode Island
more affordable and expanding opportunities for working families. Their
platforms addressed housing costs, wages, healthcare access, a fairer economy,
protections against invasive surveillance technologies like Flock, and
opposition to large data centers that can place additional demands on
communities and utility infrastructure.
- Megan Cotter (HD39, Exeter / Richmond / Hopkinton)
- Nelly Burdette (SD17, Lincoln)
- Veronicka Vega (HD49, Woonsocket / North Smithfield)
- Zakary Pereira (HD22, Warwick)
Affordable RI supported all four candidates through its
independent expenditure program, using voter outreach and strategic
communications to elevate affordability as a central election issue. The
campaign included a robust field organizing program with 70,000+ voter contacts
and over one million digital impressions through social media ads and digital
advertising, including streaming audio ads. The program also included a highly
successful influencer partnership campaign, working with local content creators
to elevate priority candidates by contrasting their stances on popular issues
with opponents.
“These wins give us more evidence that voters are hungry for
candidates who offer tangible solutions to the affordability crisis facing
working people,” said Martin. “Our goal is not just to elect candidates. It’s
to build the public support necessary to make Rhode Island more affordable,
fair, and accountable to the people who live here. We saw clearly that the
people of Rhode Island will support candidates who take a bold stand for them,
and we look forward to continuing this momentum into future elections.”
Affordable RI will take a brief break after the election and then resume advocating for the agenda to become state policy in the 2027
legislative session. We look forward to working with five new champions for
working Rhode Islanders in the coming legislative session and sharing some
exciting opportunities for more people to join our growing movement for a Rhode
Island economy that works for working people. Stay tuned.
Affordable RI is a Rhode Island advocacy organization fighting for affordable housing, higher wages, accessible healthcare, and a tax system that puts working people first. Through organizing and civic engagement, Affordable RI works to build a state where everyone can afford to live, work, and retire with dignity.
