04/06/2026
A CALL FOR LEADERS: NO CHALLENGER, NO ACCOUNTABILITY
In 2024, 49% of the 324 regular elections in Rhode Island tracked by Ballotpedia went uncontested, with 52% of the 113 General Assembly seats featuring no opponent in the general election. That’s more than half our state legislators walking into office without facing a single challenger, up significantly from just 20% in 2022. Local races fare no better: school committees and town councils routinely see the same pattern. Voters across the state open their ballots and see only one name for an elected seat. This is not healthy governance because it naturally erodes accountability, not just for Republicans but for all constituents.
Political scientists have measured what happens when officials run unopposed. A landmark 2011 study found a clear pattern: state legislators across most of the country who were elected without opposition introduce fewer bills, pass fewer laws, and miss more roll-call votes than colleagues who faced real competition. While one might argue that fewer laws could be beneficial in our highly-regulated state, it stands to reason that lawmakers who run unopposed may also not attend community forums, respond to your emails, or be responsive to their constituents in general. Without the fear of a challenger, the incentive to work hard for constituents diminishes.
According to News From the States, “’The mechanism for accountability in democracy is the ability to vote an incumbent out of office because you don’t like their performance in office,’ John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, said. ‘If there’s no choice, the mechanism doesn’t exist.’”When nearly half the seats go uncontested, the public loses its most powerful tool: the ability to compare platforms, demand answers, and reward better performance.
Rhode Island feels these effects every session. Our legislature, under Democratic control for nearly a century, produces a bloated $15B budget with persistent shortfalls, high taxes relative to services, and weak oversight. But you can fix this. Running for local or state office is more accessible than most people realize, and determined individuals can break through. Both Rep. Marie Hopkins of Warwick and Rep. Richard Fascia of Johnston/Cranston flipped blue seats to red in 2024. If you care about your town’s schools, your city’s development, or the state’s future, run. Start by attending a council meeting, talking to neighbors, attending your local Republican Town/City Committee meeting, or reaching out to us. Whether you’re a parent frustrated with education policy, a small-business owner tired of red tape, a retiree with expertise and time to give back, or anyone who believes our state can do better, run to provide voters with a choice.
Pericles said, “Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." The cost of apathy is living with decisions made by others, on your taxes, schools, neighborhoods, and freedoms. Rhode Island needs voices like yours before another cycle passes with half our seats decided before the votes are cast.
(Reposted from the RIGOP newsletter.)
If you live in East Greenwich and you're considering a run for town council, school committee, or General Assembly, contact us at [email protected] today.
