Rhode Island State Rep. David Morales, a 27-year-old democratic socialist endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., beat incumbent Providence Mayor Brett Smiley in the Democratic primary Wednesday night, ending Smiley’s tenure after a single term.
Morales won by roughly eight points, 54% to 46%. If he wins the general election in November, he will become the youngest mayor in Providence’s history.
“Few believed that a 27-year-old democratic socialist could ever, few believed that we could ever take on big money, corporate real estate interests and endless attack ads – and we took them on and we won,” Morales told supporters, delivering part of his victory speech in Spanish.
Smiley, 47, had spent one term in office and faced heavy scrutiny over his handling of a shooting at Brown University last December.
“So neighbors, with the bold agenda and the mandate that we have voted for, let’s get ready. Providence, let’s get ready,” Morales said.
Morales will face Republican nominee Dave Talan, 77, in the general election. Republicans hold no seats on the Providence City Council, and Democrats make up a majority of registered voters in the city. Kamala Harris beat President Donald Trump there by 51 points in 2024.
Smiley called Morales to concede.
“The voters of Providence made their choice, and they chose David Morales as our next mayor in the Democratic primary,” Smiley said. “While I’m not happy with that outcome, I’m so happy and proud of the campaign that we ran.”
What Morales ran on
Morales campaigned with backing from Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., former Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, and several labor unions. His platform included capping rent hikes, expanding affordable housing, and raising taxes on polluters and corporate landlords.
“Nearly a year ago today, we launched a campaign centered around a simple vision that the working people who make Providence home deserve to live here,” Morales said. “A simple vision that our neighbors deserve a mayor who will fight for them.”
Rent stabilization became a flashpoint in the race. The Providence City Council passed a measure capping annual rent increases at 4% for certain apartments, but Smiley vetoed it in April. The council fell one vote short of overriding that veto in May.
“When working people are getting priced out of the city that they love, then we must cap rent increases at 4% every single year,” Morales said. “We put housing justice on the ballot.”
Morales also campaigned as a hard-liner on Providence’s sanctuary status for illegal immigrants, positioning himself directly against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
“The city of Providence must use every tool that we have at our disposal to defend our immigrant community and protect us from the fascist ICE agents,” said Morales, the son of a Mexican immigrant mother.
The race was one of several primary contests nationally pitting progressive challengers against sitting Democratic officeholders, with Morales betting that frustration over housing costs would outweigh Smiley’s incumbency and record.
“The same way that we campaigned, we are going to govern — in coalition, side by side with our neighbors,” Morales said.
