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Rhode Island, State House, District 56

Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56
Current incumbentVacant

Rhode Island's fifty-sixth state house district is currently vacant. It was last represented by Democratic Representative Shelby Maldonado.

Rhode Island state representatives represent an average of 14,034 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 13,978 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Rhode Island legislators assume office the first Tuesday in January.

Qualifications

Article III of the Rhode Island Constitution describes the requirements to hold office.

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$15,959/yearNo per diem is paid.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Secretary of State must call for an election to be held anywhere from 70 to 90 days after the vacancy occurred. No election can be held if the vacancy happens after the first Monday in February during an election year. The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.

Elections

2020

Regular election

Elections for the office of Rhode Island House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for September 8, 2020. The filing deadline is June 24, 2020.

Special election

A special election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56 has been called for March 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for February 4, 2020, if needed. Candidates have from December 26 to December 27, 2019, to file declarations of candidacy. The filing deadline is January 7, 2020.

The seat became vacant when Shelby Maldonado (D) resigned on December 16, 2019, after being hired for a position out-of-state.



2018

General election
General election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56

Incumbent Shelby Maldonado (D) won election in the general election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Shelby Maldonado (D)
98.2
1,513
Other/Write-in votes
1.8
28

Total votes: 1,541
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56

Incumbent Shelby Maldonado advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56 on September 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Shelby Maldonado (D)
100
544

Total votes: 544
Republican primary election

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

2016

Elections for the Rhode Island House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and a general election would have taken place on November 8, 2016, if no candidate had won a majority of votes in the primary. The candidate filing deadline was June 29, 2016.

Incumbent Shelby Maldonado ran unopposed in the Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56 general election.

Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 56 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Shelby Maldonado Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Rhode Island State Board of Elections

Incumbent Shelby Maldonado ran unopposed in the Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56 Democratic primary.

Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 56 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Shelby Maldonado Incumbent (unopposed)


2014

Elections for the Rhode Island House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 25, 2014. Shelby Maldonado was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Albert Romanowicz ran as an independent candidate. Maldonado defeated Romanowicz in the general election.

Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 56, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngShelby Maldonado 83.9% 1,120
Independent Albert Romanowicz 16.1% 215
Total Votes 1,335

2012

Elections for the office of Rhode Island House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 11, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 27, 2012. Incumbent Agostinho Silva (D) was unopposed in the general election and defeated Joseph L Faria in the Democratic primary.

Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 56, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngAgostinho Silva Incumbent 97.5% 2,149
Other Write-in 2.5% 54
Total Votes 2,203

Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 56 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngAgostinho Silva Incumbent 64.6% 534
Joseph Faria 35.4% 292
Total Votes 826

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56 raised a total of $167,403. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $11,160 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Rhode Island House of Representatives District 56

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $11,025 1 $11,025
2014 $13,636 2 $6,818
2012 * $23,255 2 $11,628
2010 $23,410 2 $11,705
2008 $8,235 1 $8,235
2006 $61,242 2 $30,621
2004 $3,350 2 $1,675
2002 $16,100 2 $8,050
2000 $7,150 1 $7,150
Total $167,403 15 $11,160
* Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district.