Democratic socialist David Morales is projected to oust Providence Mayor Brett Smiley (D) from a Tuesday primary, according to Decision Desk HQ. Morales, a state lawmaker, leads the incumbent by about 14 percentage points, per DDHQ. The primary results in Rhode Island mark another win for the Democratic Party's left flank, which has…
Page A4From§Eachthe wee small hours edition — 10 September 2026
Rhode Island establishment falls: Democratic socialist ousts mayor, Bernie challenger wins primary
Incumbents lost ground in Rhode Island, with the Democratic socialist unseating Providence’s mayor and a Bernie Sanders-endorsed challenger winning a primary. The pattern is clear: establishment candidates fall, new faces step in, but the receipts show the same ledger—party, power, and the invoice for change. The narrative is precise: three takeaways, each one a record of who’s out and who’s in. The party’s ask is renewal, but the bill reads the same—names change, but the register keeps ringing. The Sanders endorsement is itemized, the socialist’s win is scanned, and the mayor’s seat is tagged for inventory. The stakes are counted: the old guard leaves, the new guard inherits the balance sheet. The closing beat: exit signs printed with names, but the address is unchanged.
“When the bosses change hands, it’s not the people who get the keys, it’s the receipts. The party line moves, but the bill stays the same. If you thought the old guard was permanent, check the exit sign.”
“Primaries are about renewal. A few incumbents fell, but that’s just healthy democracy. The party remains strong. Besides, Bernie’s endorsement is hardly a revolution—it’s more of a suggestion. Wait, maybe that’s not the official position...”
The receipts
It was a bad night to be an incumbent in Rhode Island on Wednesday, with the governor and the mayor of the state’s largest city losing their Democratic primaries. Former CVS executive Helena Foulkes defeated Democratic Gov. Dan McKee while Providence Mayor Brett Smiley lost to democratic socialist state Rep.
State Rep. David Morales won the Democratic nomination for mayor of Rhode Island’s largest city over incumbent Brett Smiley, NBC News projects.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.