To the Editor,

In our most recent election, a pattern appears to have emerged in Warwick: of 20 elected, party-affiliated positions in our city (RI Senate, RI House, mayor, City Council), 19 of those positions have been filled by men. All eighteen of the Democrats elected are white males. Our mayor is the lone independent.  And Marie Hopkins (my wife), is the only Republican and the only female.

We have fallen into a pattern. In an era where both of our major political parties are striving to increase diversity, it is interesting that locally we have chosen a slate of candidates who would have looked right at home in the 1960s (or 1920s).

After each election, many scour through voting statistics.  We search for patterns and trends, and the political parties and candidates use that information as they look toward future elections.  This is a good opportunity to hold a mirror to Warwick voters as collectively we decide who we’d like to have represent us.

We live in a city where votes were pretty evenly split between the two top presidential candidates (52.6% to 44.8%), yet locally 18 of 20 seats (90%) went to the same party. We live in a city where half of our population is female, yet locally 19 of 20 (95%) of these important positions went to men.  We are a diverse community with many voices, I hope that 2026 brings forward broader participation.

Steve Hopkins

Warwick