Providence Mayor winner?
$19.3K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Overview
Current roleState Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age27 years old (Sep 16, 1998)
GenderMale
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LocationRhode Island
BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of California, Irvine (B.A.)
Notable personal detailsDavid Morales is a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing District 7 (Providence), and has served in the legislature since January 2021. He has been active on labor and housing-related policy issues and has sponsored worker-protection legislation while serving on multiple House committees. Morales earned a B.A. from the University of California, Irvine and an M.P.A. from Brown University. He has also been a candidate for Mayor of Providence in the 2026 election cycle.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports taxing large corporate and industrial property owners more while protecting small businesses and lower-valued homes; proposes replacing Providence’s flat property tax with a fairer, graduated model, a targeted 3.5% commercial tax rate for industrial waterfront businesses, hazardous-material storage fees, and stabilizing property taxes for homes under $2 million. Plans to direct additional revenue toward public schools, city services, and infrastructure and to cancel or renegotiate tax breaks and bad contracts that reduce city revenue.
Healthcare
David Morales has proposed state legislation to create a Medicare-for-All style, single-payer health care system in Rhode Island and supports expanding access to health coverage and lowering prescription costs. His campaign emphasizes capping drug costs and protecting access to coverage.
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Immigration & Border
David Morales emphasizes protecting Providence’s immigrant community and opposes local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement while calling for stronger enforcement of sanctuary protections. His campaign frames ICE activity and militarized enforcement as harms to neighborhoods and pledges to stand up for immigrants as mayor.
Climate & Energy
Supports action on climate change and policies to expand clean energy and lower utility costs while recognizing local climate impacts (flooding, heat). Has sponsored legislation related to renewable energy interconnection and lists climate action and energy affordability among campaign priorities.
Public Safety & Guns
David Morales’ campaign platform calls for investments in violence-prevention programs, expanded access to mental-health and substance-use treatment, community partnership, and police accountability. The campaign materials discuss public safety broadly but do not state specific positions on firearms policy (for example, background checks, red flag laws, assault-weapon bans, or carry rules).
News
David Morales is in the news as a Providence mayoral candidate in a close, increasingly combative race against incumbent Brett Smiley. He has been debating public safety, housing, and socialism, while Smiley has attacked him over past comments about defunding police. Morales has responded with a public safety plan that keeps police staffing steady, adds social workers and violence-prevention efforts, and reviews the city’s license-plate reader cameras. He has also picked up endorsements from SEIU and the Providence Teachers Union, with housing affordability remaining a central theme of his campaign.
Democratic socialism or pragmatism? Smiley, Morales present different visions in TV debate
David Morales outlines public safety plan
A Youthful Crop of Politicians Run on Housing, and Their Own Rent
Providence Teachers Union backs challenger David Morales for mayor
Endorsements
Endorsers of David Morales for Providence Mayor winner?
Bernie Sanders
Elected official
Bernie Sanders endorsed David Morales for mayor of Providence
City Council leaders
Public endorsement
Providence City Council leaders endorsed David Morales in the Sept. 9 primary
Working Families Party
Elected official
The Working Families Party endorsed a slate that includes David Morales for Providence mayor
Unite Here! Local 26
Elected official
Unite Here! Local 26 endorsed David Morales for mayor of Providence
Providence Teachers Union
Elected official
The Providence Teachers Union endorsed David Morales for mayor of Providence
Reclaim Rhode Island
Elected official
Reclaim Rhode Island endorsed David Morales for mayor of Providence
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Fundraising