On September 9, 2026, the City of Providence will host primary elections for the office of mayor. These elections will decide the candidates on the ballot for the general election in November and ultimately shape the way Providence will be governed for the next four years.
The city of Providence has a strong-mayor form of government, meaning the mayor functions as the city’s executive with the city council as the legislative body. Mayoral responsibilities include drafting and proposing the budget, appointing department heads, approving or vetoing ordinances, and overseeing the administration of city functions like street infrastructure and public works projects.
Currently, the Democratic primary candidates are Mayor Brett Smiley, State Representative David Morales, and Michael English. The Republican Party currently has no candidates in the race, and Allen Waters is running as an independent. Your first chance to hear all four candidates’ policy positions will be on Wednesday, April 22nd at 7 p.m. during a Providence Mayoral Candidate Forum hosted by Brown Votes. Brown Votes is a student-led non-partisan initiative focused on fostering democratic participation on campus and beyond.
Each candidate offers a unique platform and vision for the city. Smiley, the current mayor since 2023, has campaigned on the construction of new housing and more efficient government. Morales is running on a platform focused around affordability, including proposed rent stabilization and expanded funding for public transportation. English is running on a blue-collar Democratic platform, including a promise of no new taxes, and Waters emphasizes his lack of affiliation with any political party and a commitment to fiscal conservatism and free speech. Regardless of which candidate prevails, their governance will have a dramatic impact on the future of Providence.
Historically, voter turnout in Providence mayoral primaries has been low. While there are 83,706 registered and active Democratic or unaffiliated voters in Providence, only 21,573 voted in the 2022 mayoral primary, and only 23,281 in the 2018 mayoral primary. That translated to voter turnout rates of 24% and 22%, respectively. Unaffiliated voters were counted in these calculations because there were no Republican primaries in the last two mayoral election cycles.
Because these primaries didn’t share a ballot with highly visible presidential elections, they lacked the publicity that prompts many individuals to make a plan to vote. However, local elections frequently have as much, if not more, of an effect on residents’ day-to-day lives. When it comes to services that city residents rely on – roads, schools, and public safety, to name a few – local officials make important decisions that shape the way these things and many more interact with our community.
But why do we need to engage at the citizen level? As voters, we have the direct power to choose representatives who mirror our values and vision for the future. While this is a primary election, sometimes viewed as less consequential, it is likely to decide that very representative. In the past few years of Providence primary elections, the candidates have largely been affiliated with the Democratic Party, with no Republican candidates in contention. The outcome of this primary election will have an outsized impact on the outcome of the general election.
Providence residents can register to vote in the mayoral primary via TurboVote by August 9th. And to hear from each of the candidates personally, make sure to attend the Providence Mayoral Candidate Forum, which will be hosted on Wednesday, April 22, from 7-9 p.m. at Salomon DECI, 79 Waterman Street, Providence, RI. This event is open to the public with prior RSVP required, and is a great way for voters to interact with the candidates and ask questions.
Nihil Suthy and Alissa Kraus are the Advocacy Chairs of Brown Votes, a university-wide, collective impact initiative committed to fostering democratic participation across campus and beyond. Avery Redlich, Eli Smith, and Ava Srivastava are also officials of Brown Votes’ Advocacy Committee. As members of the Providence community, they are motivated to ensure that each voter has accurate information about this upcoming mayoral primary and understands the importance of participating if they are able. They encourage all community members to learn more about each candidate’s platform and to make a plan to vote on Election Day.
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