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4/30/2026
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House approves McNamara legislation that would move presidential primary to Super Tuesday
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STATE HOUSE — The House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara that would effectively move the Rhode Island presidential preference primary to Super Tuesday.
The bill (2026-H 7090) would change the date of the primary from the fourth Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in March.
Super Tuesday is the day when the greatest number of states schedule their presidential primary elections. About one-third of all delegates to the presidential nominating conventions are chosen on Super Tuesday.
“With the exception of New Hampshire, this will, in effect, create a New England primary, giving Rhode Island citizens greater access to presidential candidates,” said Representative McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston). “I’d like to see more candidates in Rhode Island. When we have greater participation, people are enthused, it will increase voter registration and it will increase participation in democracy.”
Representative McNamara pointed out that in the past, candidates have tended to omit Rhode Island from their schedules because they already visited New England prior to Super Tuesday, and by the time the Rhode Island primary rolls around in April, the candidate has essentially been nominated.
Hugh Moren, election administrator for the city of Newport, testified in favor of the legislation, telling the House Committee on State Government and Elections, “Our late primary poses another additional problem beyond disaffected voters and low turnout. Voters are often confused when they see candidates on their ballots who, seeing no path to the nomination, have already suspended their campaigns. The deadline to officially withdraw from the race in Rhode Island may have already passed and ballots may have already been printed with the candidates’ names.”
The measure now moves to the Senate where similar legislation (2026-S 2491) has been introduced by Sen. Matthew L. LaMountain (D-Dist. 31, Warwick, Cranston), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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