
R.I. political heavyweights back moderate and progressive frontrunners in New York mayoral primary
Cuomo has led most polls until recently, but an
and several other candidates (Cuomo and Mamdani are also eligible to participate in the general election if they don't emerge as the clear winner today.)
Get Rhode Map
A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State.
Enter Email
Sign Up
So what are the Rhode Island connections to the race?
Advertisement
To start, former Providence mayor
has put his money where his mouth is, donating $25,000 to Fix the City, a super PAC that is backing Cuomo and
Advertisement
a former top executive at IGT and a longtime Democratic Party influencer, also gave $1,000 to Cuomo's campaign.
If Cuomo represents the traditional, more moderate arm of the Democratic Party, Mamdani has emerged as the favorite among progressives – and some of Rhode Island's top organizers are all-in on his campaign.
State Senators
The
a prominent progressive voice in Rhode Island.
Mamdani has reported at least 38 small-dollar donations from Rhode Island residents, including $25 from state Representative Teresa Tanzi
on March 12.
It's all a good reminder that the ideological fault lines dividing Democrats in New York are alive and well in Rhode Island, too.
To learn a whole lot more about today's New York City primary,
This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday,
.
Dan McGowan can be reached at

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
37 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Gavin Newsom Is Heading to a Key 2028 State
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California Governor Gavin Newsom is heading to South Carolina, likely to be a key Democratic primary state, amid speculation he plans to run for president in 2028. Newsweek reached out to Newsom's office for comment via email. Why It Matters Newsom has long been believed to be a potential presidential candidate for Democrats, and his trip to early-voting South Carolina is likely to continue to fuel that speculation. Newsom has cast himself as a leading rival to President Donald Trump amid his second term in office. Several prominent Democrats are expected to jump into the race. While the primary is still more than two years away, potential candidates are already making early moves with the goal of giving themselves an advantage among Democratic primary voters. What to Know The South Carolina Democratic Party (SCDP) announced a multi-county tour with Newsom across some of the most "economically challenged and environmentally vulnerable rural counties in South Carolina" next week. Several of these counties have experienced "hardship" from job loss, wildfires and hurricanes, the SCDP wrote in a statement, adding that the rural areas have been "left behind" by Republican leaders in the state. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on March 26, 2025 in Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on March 26, 2025 in Los Angeles. Frazer Harrison/WireImage via Getty Images It will also give Newsom the opportunity to engage with voters in what is likely to be an early-voting state. South Carolina voted first in the 2024 primary but has long been among the four first states to vote—along with Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire. Whether the schedule may change remains unclear at this point. The statement, however, makes no mention of his potential 2028 ambitions. SCDP Chair Christale Spain wrote in a statement that Newsom "leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world" and is "coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control." "This is about building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren't forgotten," Spain wrote. Gavin Newsom's Chance of Winning 2028 Primary—Polls Newsom has been among the leading candidates in most polls of the 2028 primary, along with former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The latest Morning Consult poll of the potential 2028 field showed that Newsom's standing doubled after the Los Angeles protests over Trump's immigration policies and mass deportations. Eleven percent said they planned to support him, up from 5 percent in March. Still, 34 percent said they leaned toward Harris. Seven percent said they planned to vote for Buttigieg and Ocasio-Cortez. The poll surveyed 1,000 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents from June 13 to June 15, 2025. An Emerson College poll last month showed Newsom with 12 percent support, compared to 16 percent for Buttigieg, 13 percent for Harris and 7 percent for Ocasio-Cortez. The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters from June 24 to June 25, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. What People Are Saying Spain wrote in the press release: "Our strategy isn't about chasing cable news coverage, it's about showing up and building trust, town by town, county by county, that is our path back to power. We're proud of the gains we are making but we're even more focused on what's ahead." Newsom told The Wall Street Journal in June: "I'm not thinking about running, but it's a path that I could see unfold." What Happens Next Typically, most candidates do not begin announcing presidential runs until after the midterm elections. Newsom has not confirmed plans to run for president.


Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
President Trump kicks off a yearlong celebration of America's 250th anniversary in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — President Donald Trump turned a heartland festival for the United States' upcoming 250th anniversary into a celebration of himself, basking in a crowd of supporters Thursday night shortly after Congress approved tax cut legislation that he championed. On the eve of the July 4th holiday, Trump said 'there could be no better birthday present for America than the phenomenal victory we achieved just hours ago, when Congress passed the one big beautiful bill to make America great again.' The Republican president plans to sign the legislation Friday during a picnic at the White House, while stealth bombers and fighter jets that participated in recent airstrikes in Iran fly overhead, a symbolic synthesis of the overwhelming force that he's deployed to reshape Washington and the country. 'We've saved our country,' he boasted after taking the stage, pumping his fists while singer Lee Greenwood belted out Trump's campaign trail anthem 'God Bless the USA.' In addition to tax breaks, the legislation boosts funding for deportations while cutting back on healthcare and food assistance for low income people. The event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines was the opening act for a yearlong birthday party to mark two and a half centuries of American independence. The plans will culminate next summer with a massive fair on the National Mall in Washington featuring exhibits from every state. Organizers see the coming year of festivities as a way to help unite a polarized nation and bridge political divides. But Trump left no doubt during his speech that he views patriotism as inseparable from his own agenda, saying Democrats who voted against his legislation 'hate our country.' U.S. Ambassador Monica Crowley, Trump's liaison to the organizing group, America250, said in an interview that the anniversary events are 'something that I think that all Americans can come together to celebrate and honor our history as well as our present and our future.' However, when she took the stage to introduce the president, she delivered an ode to Trump, describing him as the inheritor of the country's original revolutionary spirit. 'I don't know what more people expect or want from an American president,' Crowley said. 'He is literally fulfilling the entire job description, and so much more.' A few thousand spectators waited for Trump for hours in 90-plus degree Fahrenheit (32 degree Celsius) heat. The audience was awash in Trump paraphernalia, including 'Make America Great Again' hats, shirts that said 'Ultra MAGA' and a stuffed monkey with its own miniature Trump shirt. During the speech, Trump heard what sounded like fireworks. The anniversary of his attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, was only ten days away. 'It's only fireworks, I hope,' he said. 'Famous last words.' Unlike a year ago, Trump was speaking from behind thick bulletproof glass. 'You always have to think positive,' he said. 'I didn't like that sound either.' The reminder of one of the darkest moments in recent political history did little to dampen Trump's political euphoria. He boasted about the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the declining price of eggs, the lower number of migrants crossing the southern border with Mexico and his election victories. 'We got great marks in the first term, and this is going to blow it away,' Trump said. He said he likes calling his wife Melania 'first lady' because 'it reminds me that I'm president.' Trump has occasionally mused about the fortuitous timing of serving in the White House during the country's 250th anniversary, a chronological overlap that only became possible because he lost his initial bid for a second term — a defeat he's never accepted. He promised during last year's campaign to create an epic series of festivities and convene a task force to coordinate with state and local governments. On Thursday night, he announced plans for the 'Patriot Games,' sports contests featuring high school athletes from across the country 'to show off the best of American skill, sportsmanship and competitive spirit.' Trump also suggesting hosting UFC matches at the White House. A recent Gallup poll showed the widest partisan split in patriotism in over two decades, with only about a third of Democrats saying they are proud to be American, compared with about 9 in 10 Republicans. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trump's performance as president, according to a June AP-NORC poll, while about 6 in 10 disapprove. The Trump administration's own cost-cutting moves this year threaten to complicate the celebrations. Reduced funding led the National Endowment for the Humanities to send letters to state humanities councils across the country saying their federal grants had been terminated. Many of those councils had been working on programming to commemorate the 250th anniversary and had already dedicated some of their federal grants for events at libraries, schools and museums. Gabrielle Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities and chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission, said the cuts already have curtailed some of the planned programs, including community readings of the Declaration of Independence. 'It is very hard to understand how we can protect and preserve people's ability locally to make this mean something for them, and to celebrate what they want to celebrate, if you're not funding the humanities councils,' Lyon said.


News24
an hour ago
- News24
SA-raised Zohran Mamdani is blazing a trail to become New York's next mayor
Zohran Mamdani beat former New York governor Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral democratic primary election. Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial. Dive into a world of inspiration, learning, and empowerment. You can only trial once.