District 68 race would require a Primary first

If three declared Democrats all run for the vacant seat, the first step is a Primary election

By Ted Hayes
Posted 12/6/18

The political vacuum created by the sudden departure of District 68 Representative-elect Laufton Ascencao will take at least two elections to fill.

Officials at the Rhode Island Secretary of …

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District 68 race would require a Primary first

If three declared Democrats all run for the vacant seat, the first step is a Primary election

Posted

The political vacuum created by the sudden departure of District 68 Rep.-elect Laufton Ascencao could take at least two elections to fill.

Officials at the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s office said Thursday morning that first, a primary election would be required if there are multiple declared candidates from any party. As of Thursday morning,  at least three Democrats — June Speakman from Warren and Andy Tyska and Timothy Sweeney of Bristol — have announced their intent to run for the seat. If they all stay on that path, there would have to be a Democratic Primary.

Also announcing his intention to run is William Hunt of Warren, a Libertarian who lost to Mr. Ascencao in November.

Though no date has yet been set for either a primary or special elction, secretary of state officials said one will be set soon. State guidelines dictate that in the case of a General Assembly vacancy, a special election must be held between 70 and 90 days after the vacancy is created. It is not clear whether that timetable begins when Mr. Ascencao announced he will not take the seat, when he files paperworks as such, or when the terms ends for the previous representative, Demorat Kenneth Marshall.

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