The 2022 Primary Election is coming up on Tuesday, Sept. 13, kicking off a full season of politics with plenty of interest among statewide and local offices.

Every citizen of voting age should consider it their responsibility to become informed on the candidates that will appear on their ballot, so they can make an informed decision. We have been working hard to provide as much information as possible to help you make that choice, and once General Election races are set, look to us for even more political news and candidate features.

Of all the races to be decided next week, none looms larger than the race for governor. Democratic incumbent Dan McKee has a sizable group of contestants looking to take him down, each of which represents a different portion of the political spectrum – from successful corporate executive Helena Foulkes to the Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, and the Progressive wing’s Matt Brown. Recent polling has shown a high percentage of undecided voters willing to be swayed, and no clear frontrunner in the race thus far (McKee, Gorbea, and Foulkes are the top three choices), so it is fair to assume that it’s anyone’s race at this point.

Other races, including Seth Magaziner’s all-but-confirmed primary win for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, and the tight but getting less tight race led by Sabina Matos to hold onto her seat as Lt. Governor, lack the same luster, but are still worth watching.

As with any political season, there are sure to be upsets and near upsets, and new faces will be infused into the mix of our local boards – which have the most impact on the day-to-day lives of us and our families. This is why it is so essential to study up and make sure you place your trust, and your vote, in the people who you think will take that role seriously and represent all people, not just your own interests, in a fair and responsible way.

Mid-term election primaries are not exactly infamous for high voter turnout, but with the availability of early and mail-in voting, there is no excuse for Rhode Islanders to not improve upon its recent history of low turnout. It takes so little effort to engage with your democracy and make your voice heard.

Good luck to all the candidates, and we’ll be talking to the winners soon.