State Rep. David Morales MPA’19 defeated incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley in the Democratic primary, the Associated Press called Wednesday night.
Morales has served as a representative for Providence’s Mount Pleasant, Valley and Elmhurst neighborhoods in the R.I. House of Representatives for five years. During this time, he led the passage of legislation to provide health insurance to all low-income R.I. children regardless of immigration status and to prohibit insurers from requiring co-payments for COVID-19 vaccines and treatment. In addition, he sponsored legislation to raise the state minimum wage.
In his campaign, Morales has emphasized his support for rent stabilization as part of the solution to Providence’s housing affordability crisis. While the City Council approved an ordinance to enforce a 4% annual cap on rent increases in April, Smiley’s veto blocked its passage. Morales has promised to work with the City Council to sign rent stabilization into law, as well as to establish a board to enforce the policy.
His other priorities include partnering with local nonprofits to increase the number of social workers and psychologists in the Providence Public School Department, as well as gathering evidence to seek legal action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In recent months, ICE activity has increased in Providence, with several detainments occurring on College Hill.
Morales — who has been historically affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America — has received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif. 17).
Morales will face off against Republican nominee Dave Talan in the Nov. 3 general election.
Michelle Bi is a metro editor covering City Hall & Crime and State Politics & Justice. She is a junior from Oak Park, CA and studies English and IAPA. In her free time, you can find her playing guitar, the LA Times crossword or one of her 115 Spotify playlists.
