Key facts
- David Morales won the Democratic primary for mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.
- Morales defeated incumbent mayor Brett Smiley.
- Morales is endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America.
- Morales ran on a platform of rent stabilization, affordable housing, and making Providence a sanctuary city.
- Smiley had vetoed a rent-stabilization ordinance and implemented a property tax increase.
- Morales will face Republican David Talan in the November general election.
David Morales, a state representative and democratic socialist, won the Democratic primary for mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, on Wednesday night, defeating incumbent Brett Smiley. Morales, who was endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Socialists of America, is now favored to win the general election in November.
Morales ran on a progressive platform that included capping annual rent hikes at 4%, increasing affordable housing, and raising taxes on corporate polluters and landlords. He also advocated for Providence to become an official sanctuary city. Smiley, who is now out of office after one term, had previously vetoed a rent-stabilization ordinance passed by the city council and faced scrutiny for implementing the city's largest property tax increase in a decade.
Morales, 27, would be the youngest mayor in Providence's history if he wins the general election. He is the son of a Mexican immigrant single mother and became the youngest graduate of Brown University's public administration master's program. He was also the youngest Latino elected to a US state legislature at age 22.
His victory follows a trend of progressive wins in US cities. In a separate race, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee lost his Democratic primary to Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive, largely due to voter frustration over the handling of Washington Bridge repairs.