What Does Rise in Uncontested Assembly Races Mean For Rhode Island Voters?

In the Aug. 2, 2024, episode of “A Lively Experiment,” moderator Jim Hummel and his panelists discussed a constitutional convention and what effect a sharp rise in uncontested General Assembly seats might have in Rhode Island. Panelists also examined the move by Attorney General Peter Neronha to put agencies on notice about withholding public records.

Hummel was joined by Billy Hunt, chairperson of the Libertarian Party of Rhode Island; Ray Rickman, a political contributor and former deputy secretary of state; and Lisa Pelosi, a Republican strategist.

This discussion has been condensed and edited for clarity. Watch the full episode of “A Lively Experiment” here.

This year, there are only 18 candidates for general assembly seats, with all Democrats facing primary races on Sept. 10. That is less than half of the contested races that voters faced in 2022. More than half of the legislative races are uncontested this year — a 20% rise from two years ago.

The panelists agree that 2024 is a unique — and at times daunting — election year.

“This cycle hasn’t been great,” Hunt said, adding that “a falling tide lowers all ships.”

The Libertarian Party has struggled, with no strong standard-bearer at the top of the ticket. It took seven ballots for the party to nominate Chase Oliver for president.

"(He) barely beat out ‘None of the Above,’” Hunt said.

Pelosi said that Republicans face a steep road in Rhode Island.

“It’s not easy to run a campaign,” she said. “And then, running as a Republican in Rhode Island is almost impossible.

“So Republicans really have to think twice, ‘Do we really wanna go through all this work?’”

The decline of civic groups getting involved in the election process is certainly an issue, Rickman said, referencing a noted political scientist.

“We’re bowling alone, as Robert Putnam would say. Block clubs are collapsing — everything’s collapsing in society,” he said. “So that’s your first problem — we’re not as civic.

“Secondly, I think politics really is getting a bad name,” adding that the problems were rooted in the national, and not state, levels.

“We were talking ... about, you know, I used to like Republicans. They were OK people and they were in favor of the environment and they thought, ‘You go in your bedroom, that was your own business,’” Rickman said. “Now I don’t, so if I were a Republican, I wouldn’t be running as a Republican. I don’t know what I’d be running as.

“I think there’s a lot of that going on. You don’t wanna get affiliated with these parties, you really don’t.”

The panel turned to the prospect of a constitutional convention that will be on the ballot on Nov. 5. There has not been one called since 1986.

Sometimes called a “ConCon,” the convention is made up of a group of elected delegates who meet and propose changes to the state constitution. Any amendments recommended by the delegates must be approved by voters in a statewide election.

Should there be such a convention? Pelosi said yes.

“Let it get to the voters and let the voters decide,” she said. “I mean, there are a few stopgaps along the way to stop an issue from going forward if the majority of people don’t want it.

“But let’s bring it to the people.”

Rickman agreed, saying that he was “100% in favor.”

“I just love going out to the public and we haven’t been out to the public in 30-plus years. ... I don’t think any harm will be done and maybe we’ll get something,” he said. “The General Assembly can’t even pass a bottle bill.

“I can tell you 10 things I’d like to see, which they will not do. So, finally, maybe we don’t get it, but we have a fabulous public conversation.”

Hunt said that the “red herring” in the 1986 convention was an abortion proposal, which was ultimately rejected by the voters. He added that any special interests that get involved in a constitutional convention are only going to affect what topics are brought up — and not what the outcomes might be or what voters might favor.

“It’s funny to me and a little disingenuous that a lot of the people who are opposed to the constitutional convention are not interested in getting special interests out of Rhode Island politics,” Hunt said. “They just don’t want outside special interests.”

Hummel said that former President Donald Trump’s appearance at the National Association for Black Journalists was “beyond the pale.”

“I’m not sure whether you should be surprised anymore, but it was surprising even for me, some of what he said, maybe not for you?” Hummel said to Rickman, who said “No, he says it all the time.”

“He’s been saying it for 10-plus years and we forget that Donald Trump, things he did when he was a private businessman in New York. So this is time No. 20,” Rickman said. “And it’s so insulting. Are you aware there are 34 million people who are biracial in this country and half of them are Korean and whatever else they are? And so, he’s ignorant, insulting, awful. And she has a right to be more than one being. Seriously.

“And she has been black forever. She went to Howard, she’s in a black sorority ... the man’s an idiot. But worse than that, every other week they’re insulting 64 million women without children, half of whom can’t have a child. They’re just awful, awful human beings. It’s frightening.”

Pelosi said she was surprised that Trump was invited to the event — and that he accepted.

“And then to watch the exchange that happened, it was just painful to watch.”

Hunt, who said he was “not a fan of Trump” and his approach, still found the exchange odd.

“But I’m also really not gonna try to wade into judging the intersectional Olympics over here when the Democrats seem to, one on the one hand, use all of these intersectional traits that they have that are really irrelevant to their merit autocracies and how they actually do the job, and use that as a reason and as a badge of honor,” Hunt said. “Yet, when somebody comes across and mentions something like a DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) hire or something like that, they take an offense. And as a pejorative, and again, the logic doesn’t really follow 100% in my estimation.

“Because, if their logic, the diversity is bringing positives to the workplace and the political environment, then why would that be considered a negative when someone brought it up ...”

Rickman interrupted, stating that Harris is “10 times more qualified” to be president than Trump.

“The Vice President of the United States is as qualified as anybody who’s run for president of the United States. And that is not anything that should be attached to her. And it’s racism, that’s what he’s doing,” Rickman said. “It’s sexism too.”

“You go ahead and you can judge her in the context of her record and what she’s actually done,” Hunt said.

Rickman asked Hunt why Trump did not bring up Harris’ record as vice president, as California’s attorney general and as a prosecutor.

“I disagree with you 90%. But this is policy and this is performance,” Rickman said.

“I would ask the same question,” Hunt said.

“I think Donald Trump doesn’t know how to run against her,” Pelosi said. “So he’s falling back to his very comfort level of identity politics and going after her on that level.”