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The online and text message survey of 1,450 likely Rhode Island voters was conducted June 5 to June 14 by Embold Research.
You can read the full survey here, and below are five key takeaways.
Bridge trouble for Governor McKee
This is the first public polling we’ve seen that asks a specific question about the failure of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge, and McKee takes a hit. Only 29 percent of likely voters said they approve of his handling of the bridge, while 59 percent said they disapprove. The poll also showed 60 percent of likely voters think the state is on the wrong track. McKee’s 36 percent overall job approval is below US Senator Jack Reed (58 percent), US Representative Seth Magaziner (51 percent), US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (48 percent), US Representative Gabe Amo (42 percent) and Biden (42 percent).
The Kennedy factor
Rhode Island probably isn’t going to decide the presidential election, but four years after Biden earned more than 59 percent of the vote against Trump, only 40 percent of likely voters say they’re sticking with the incumbent president. Two concerns for Biden: RFK Jr. has 12 percent among likely voters, and 17 among independents, and only 72 percent of Democrats said they are voting for Biden (by comparison, Trump commands the support of 87 percent of Republicans).
Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo are heavy favorites
Reed, the most popular politician in the state, doesn’t face reelection until 2026. But the poll shows Whitehouse, Magaziner, and Amo appear well on their way to breeze past their Republican opponents in the November election. Whitehouse was at 48 percent compared to 34 percent for whichever Republican he faces (state Representative Patti Morgan or Ray McKay). Magaziner leads little-known challenger Steve Corvi 47 percent to 33 percent, and Amo has a 50-percent to 29-percent lead over perennial candidate Allen Waters.
Sabina Matos’ uphill battle
It’s not easy to build your profile as lieutenant governor, and Sabina Matos has the added challenge of dealing with a voter signature scandal that rocked her campaign for Congress last year. Now she finds herself at 27 percent approval and 39 percent disapproval in job performance. The bright side for Matos is that 35 percent of voters said they weren’t sure, but this poll isn’t likely to curb talk of a Democratic primary challenger for Matos in 2026.
Everyone wants an inspector general
Except the people who could make it happen. Democrats, Republicans, and independents all expressed overwhelming support for a Republican-led proposal to create an independent inspector general’s office to investigate waste and fraud in government. Among likely voters, 73 percent said they support an inspector general, while just 8 percent oppose.
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 e-mail Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.
Local News
A Rhode Island husband and wife in their 50s were identified as the two people killed in a Swansea car crash Friday night.
Carlolyn Carcasi, 54, and James Carcasi, 53, of Bristol, Rhode Island, were killed in the Feb. 27 crash, the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a press release Monday.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 6 in Swansea, Quinn’s office said.
Police in Cranston, Rhode Island identified the driver who allegedly hit the couple as Demitri Sousa, 28. Sousa allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island nearly four hours before the crash, Cranston police said.
At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said previously.
The couple was driving southbound on Route 136 when the Sousa crashed into the side of a Subaru Ascent. Both cars had “catastrophic damage,” and the Subaru was engulfed in flames, Swansea fire and police officials said.
Both occupants of the Subaru were declared dead at the scene, Swansea officials said.
Sousa was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. He is expected to live and will be held in Cranston police custody until he is medically cleared, police said Sunday.
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CRANSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday.
The event was held at the Cranston Public Library at 9 a.m.
Reed and other leaders of WFRI hosted a panel discussion with women leaders in environmental and agricultural advocacy, education, community resilience, housing, finance, workforce development, and more, officials said.
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday. (WJAR)
“Women have played a critical role in this process, most often without any recognition,” Reed said. “Today’s panel brings together an extraordinary group of women who are addressing the challenged of sustainability from various angles and I want to thank you all for your great efforts.”
The panelists highlighted their experiences, shared insights and tips on lifting up women’s voices, provided strategies for sparking change and more.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)
According to officials, some of the panelists included Executive Director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council Nessa Richman, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Rhode Island College Kim Bright, Newport Housing Authority Executive Director Rhonda Mitchell and more.
Local News
A Seekonk man is accused of murder after he allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island before causing a car crash in Swansea that killed two people last week, police said.
Demitri Sousa, 28, is charged with murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, the Cranston Police Department said.
The shooting occurred Thursday night in Cranston, police said in a press release.
That night, Sousa allegedly arrived at the Cranston home of Javon Lawson, 35. Sousa began banging on the side door of the home, police said.
When Lawson approached the door, he was hit by gunfire from outside, police said.
First responders transported Lawson to the Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Cranston police said.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, the motive is believed to be a dispute between the suspect and the victim over a mutual female acquaintance. Detectives are continuing this investigation to gain more insight, as well as to collect and analyze evidence,” Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of Cranston police, said in an emailed statement to Boston.com.
Neighbors gave police video footage that “showed a male subject wearing dark clothing and a mask walking toward the residence moments before the shooting and fleeing immediately afterward,” Winquist said.
The suspect was also seen running to a white Infiniti sedan which then drove off, the Cranston police chief said.
Shortly after the shooting, a license plate reader captured the vehicle driving southbound on Route 10, and then later in Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts. The sedan’s license plate was registered in Sousa’s name, Winquist said.
At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said.
Just moments later, Sousa allegedly “crashed into the side of another vehicle, a blue 2022 Subaru Ascent that had been traveling southbound on Route 136,” Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley and Fire Chief Eric Hajder said in a joint press release.
Both vehicles had “catastrophic damage,” and the struck car was engulfed in flames, the Swansea officials said.
The driver and passenger of the hit car — a man and a woman — were declared dead at the scene, they said.
“Swansea Police had been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle. However, Swansea Police were not involved in the pursuit and were not pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash,” the Swansea chiefs wrote. Swansea official have not announced charges related to the fatal crash.
Sousa had been driving the Infiniti and appeared to be suffering from serious injuries, Winquist said. Inside the car, police found a pistol and “additional .22 caliber ammunition was recovered” from Sousa at Rhode Island Hospital, Winquist said.
Police arrested Sousa and transported him to Rhode Island Hospital. Sousa is expected to survive, Winquist said. Sousa will be held in Cranston police custody until he is conscious and medically cleared, Winquist said.
“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea,” Winquist said.
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