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Rhode Island, State Senate, District 8

Rhode Island State Senate District 8
Current incumbentSandra Cano Democratic Party

Rhode Island's Eighth State Senate District is currently represented by Democratic Senator Sandra Cano.

Rhode Island State Senators represent an average of 27,699 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 27,587 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Rhode Island State Senate 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 lays out the requirements for officeholders of Rhode Island's state government.

Salaries

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

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, 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

Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate 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.

2018

Regular election

General election
General election for Rhode Island State Senate District 8

Incumbent Sandra Cano (D) defeated Richard Karsulavitch (R) in the general election for Rhode Island State Senate District 8 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Sandra Cano (D)
72.7
4,707

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Richard Karsulavitch (R)
27.0
1,752
Other/Write-in votes
0.3
19

Total votes: 6,478
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 8

Incumbent Sandra Cano advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 8 on September 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Sandra Cano (D)
100
1,805

Total votes: 1,805
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 8

Richard Karsulavitch advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 8 on September 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Richard Karsulavitch (R)
100
265

Total votes: 265

Special election

Pawtucket City Councilwoman Sandra Cano won the special election for the position of Rhode Island State Senate District 8 on April 3, 2018. The seat became vacant after James Doyle (D) resigned on January 9, 2018, saying he was stepping down to deal with personal health struggles. The filing deadline for candidates interested in running for the seat was on January 19, 2018.

A total of six candidates filed to fill the open seat. Sandra Cano defeated David Norton and Matthew Fecteau in the Democratic primary on February 27, 2018, while Nathan Luciano defeated Richard Karsulavitch in the Republican primary. Pamela Braman declared her intention to run in the special election as an independent candidate but did not appear on the ballot.

General election
Special general election for Rhode Island State Senate District 8

Sandra Cano (D) defeated Nathan Luciano (R) in the special general election for Rhode Island State Senate District 8 on April 3, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Sandra Cano (D)
91.9
1,444

Nathan Luciano (R)
8.1
128

Total votes: 1,572
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 8

Sandra Cano defeated Matthew Fecteau and David Norton in the special Democratic primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 8 on February 27, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Sandra Cano (D)
60.6
872

Matthew Fecteau (D)
24.6
354

David Norton (D)
14.7
212

Total votes: 1,438
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 8

Nathan Luciano defeated Richard Karsulavitch in the special Republican primary for Rhode Island State Senate District 8 on February 27, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Nathan Luciano (R)
62.4
78

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Richard Karsulavitch (R)
37.6
47

Total votes: 125


2016

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 29, 2016.

Incumbent James Doyle ran unopposed in the Rhode Island State Senate District 8 general election.

Rhode Island State Senate, District 8 General Election, 2016

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

Incumbent James Doyle defeated Matthew Fecteau and Mark Theroux in the Rhode Island State Senate District 8 Democratic primary.

Rhode Island State Senate, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png James Doyle Incumbent 40.27% 946
Democratic Matthew Fecteau 37.46% 880
Democratic Mark Theroux 22.26% 523
Total Votes 2,349

2014

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate 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. Incumbent James Doyle was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate 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 James Doyle (D) defeated Beth M Croll (I) in the general election and was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Rhode Island State Senate, District 8, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJames E. Doyle Incumbent 75.3% 6,435
Independent Beth M Croll 24.5% 2,092
Other Other 0.2% 20
Total Votes 8,547

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Rhode Island State Senate District 8 raised a total of $257,853. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $18,418 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Rhode Island State Senate District 8

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $33,124 3 $11,041
2014 $8,150 1 $8,150
2012 * $18,706 2 $9,353
2010 $24,782 2 $12,391
2008 $27,463 1 $27,463
2006 $31,004 1 $31,004
2004 $23,524 2 $11,762
2002 $91,100 1 $91,100
2000 $0 1 $0
Total $257,853 14 $18,418
* Campaign finance data for 2012 is incomplete for this district.