Ian Donnis

Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. represent a veritable tale of two cities in comparing the relative fortunes of the Republican Party. The maximalist leadership of President Trump caps a trifecta for the GOP in DC, encompassing control of the White House, the Senate and the House. Trump’s approach is so overwhelming that the president is even living large in the mind space of more than a few of the lawmakers who make up the Democratic supermajority in the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Be that as it may, the sum of 14 Republicans among 113 legislators on Smith Hill remained static in last November’s election. Former Rep. Patricia Morgan pointed to the failure to make gains in touting her support for Jessica Drew-Day, the rival to RI GOP Chairman Joe Powers in the upcoming March 1 election. But despite their detailed critiques of Democrats (and more than a few pratfalls featuring the state’s dominant party), Republicans have failed to significantly boost their legislative presence for decades, including during Morgan’s time as GOP chair.

Senate GOP Leader Jessica de la Cruz (R-North Smithfield) has emerged as a leading messenger for the Republican cause in Rhode Island. She checked off a list of criticisms of Gov. Dan McKee during her response to McKee’s State of the State address last month. De la Cruz also points hopefully to how Trump gained support last November over his earlier showings in Rhode Island. But asked why the GOP isn’t doing better here given her rap against McKee, she preaches patience – an outlook that could be complicated if top Rhody Republicans like her wind up landing in the Trump administration.

“Does it take 10 years? Does it take 20 years? I don’t know,” de la Cruz said during an interview on Political Roundtable. “But we’re going to keep the course, stay on course. We’re going to keep putting quality candidates up to run, from governor all the way down to school committee, and we’re gonna keep supporting them.”

(de la) CRUZ CONTROL: A few highlights from my interview with Senate GOP Leader Jessica de la Cruz:

***With a relatively static $40K or so balance as of her last campaign report, the North Smithfield Republican does not appear to be gearing up for a statewide run in 2026. She acknowledged: “I’m not going to run for governor.” De la Cruz said there are potential GOP candidates for governor in addition to Ashley Kalus, but she declined to name them.

***De la Cruz said she likes Joe Powers, but is neutral on whether he or Jessica Drew-Day should be the state’s GOP chair. The election is March 1.

***Asked if she shares the concern of many Democrats about the vast power being wielded by Elon Musk, the unelected right-hand man of President Trump, de la Cruz said, “Well, the question for me is, which unelected bureaucrat was running the country when Biden was incapacitated? There are a lot of unelected bureaucrats in federal government that advise, that suggest, that help those who are elected. And so I’m not against having an individual who is as successful as Elon Musk maybe offering advice to someone in our administration. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the advice will be taken. But, again, why would I not take the advice or at least consider the advice of someone who is wildly successful?”

2026 IS APPROACHING: With the RI AFL-CIO set to release on its website a poll at 1 p.m. on Monday, keep an eye on the unfavorable number for Gov. Dan McKee, and how it compares with his approval rating. Fleming and Associates, the well-regarded pollster for WPRI-TV, among others, is responsible for the findings, based on recent phone interviews with 400 registered Rhode Island voters. Via email, RI AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley said the entire poll will be released, including questions, methodology and cross-tabs. 

FEDS: Will former U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha enter the race for attorney general next year? It wouldn’t be surprising, given his self-described interest in public service and his long record of work as a prosecutor. Also eyeing the race: Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Newport) and Reps. Jason Knight (D-Barrington) and Robert Craven (D-North Kingstown). For now, the big question – as Steve Frias aptly observed on Lively – is whether there is a Republican who can thread the needle between being Trumpy enough to satisfy the White House and reasonable enough to clear the blue check of the state’s two Democratic senators. Adding to intrigue, one of the hopefuls, former state Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders – who was known for his dissents – ran against Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in 2018.

BEER CHALLENGE: Some craft brewers like to point to their sector as second only to wind as a growing part of Rhode Island’s economy. That might be overstating it a bit. But the Ocean State does regulate craft brewers more than our neighboring states of Connecticut and Massachusetts do, as I reported in a story for RIPBS Weekly.

MEDIA: Aidan Ryan, in his detailed look in the Globe at the shrinking footprint of The Associated Press in New England, notes how part of the role of the venerable wire service was “chronicling the wacky stories that distinguish the region …” Meanwhile, WBZ’s Matt Shearer – billed as “New England’s most viral journalist” – “has stood out [in part] for chasing the weird and wacky stories of New England.” So is the takeaway that TikTok is the make-or-break medium of our age? (Or at least until Trump’s 75-day pause on the U.S. ban ends.)

ASSISTED SUICIDE: Legislation has again been introduced that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in Rhode Island. Here’s an excerpt from a conversation between state Sen. Meghan Kallman (D-Pawtucket), the Senate sponsor of the bill, and my colleague Luis Hernandez: “The bill is designed so that people cannot make this decision lightly or impulsively. They have to make the request twice, two weeks apart. They need to have received a diagnosis that is terminal and a prognosis of six months or less. So the process is designed to be available to patients who are facing very crucial months, weeks at the end of their life and are trying to not suffer more than they need to. There are also protections in the bill to safeguard physicians; that they cannot be held liable for the prescription of life ending medication in circumstances like the ones that are laid out in the bill itself.”

SNL: October 1975 was a big month when it came to making a big impression on your humble correspondent. The seed of my love for the Sox was planted when Boston squared off vs Cincinnati in a World Series for the ages. And I was among those watching when Saturday Night Live debuted. The irreverent humor spoke to me – and many others, apparently, judging by the staying power of SNL. By the time I was in high school in New Jersey there was a tell of my future being in Rhode Island: The Clash played New York on the Sandinista! Tour and a friend was convinced they were going to make a wee-hours appearance at a small club in lower Manhattan. We waited and waited and no Clash, although Johnny Thunders, ex- of the New York Dolls, showed up to jam. While waiting it out, we chatted with Charles Rocket, tossed from SNL for swearing on the air, who had his roots in Rhode Island’s news and demi-monde.