RI Election Preview: Boston Globe's Dan McGowan

Send us Fan Mail BB is joined by Dan McGowan for a final-week look at Rhode Island’s primary races. They unpack turnout, the Providence mayoral contest, the governor’s race, and the down-ballot battles for lieutenant governor and attorney general. In this episode Why turnout and early voting may decide the election The momentum behind David Morales in the Providence mayoral race Whether Brett Smiley’s incumbent coalition can hold How Morales has broadened his appeal beyond progressive voters The Washington Bridge and opioid crisis as central issues in the governor’s race Why Dan McKee’s closing message may matter with undecided voters The crowded lieutenant governor race and its two apparent front-runners The attorney general contest, campaign dynamics, and the importance of endorsements Where to subscribe to Dan McGowan’s Roadmap newsletter Timestamps 00:00 — Final-week election outlook and the importance of turnout 01:07 — Why the Providence mayoral race is the most compelling contest 02:09 — Early voting, new voters, and the Morales coalition 04:34 — Can David Morales expand beyond democratic-socialist support? 05:05 — Morales’s positive campaign and voter perceptions 06:44 — How a Morales administration could work with either governor 09:36 — Why Brett Smiley could still narrowly win 10:59 — The governor’s race: Washington Bridge vs. opioid crisis 11:41 — Why the bridge issue may be dominating voter sentiment 12:52 — Could McKee have made a stronger working-families case? 14:37 — McKee’s “grandfatherly” appeal and undecided voters 16:20 — Polling, closing ads, and the race for late deciders 18:04 — Lieutenant governor: who has a real path to victory? 20:18 — Why campaigning for lieutenant governor is uniquely difficult 21:25 — Attorney general race: the leading candidates and challengers 22:37 — Money, institutional support, and the East Side dynamic 24:44 — Candidate temperament and what voters may value in an attorney general 25:53 — The potential impact of Peter Neronha’s endorsement 27:00 — How to subscribe to Roadmap and final election-week thoughts Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube