State

State Senator, 17th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Rhode Island laws and the state budget in the General Assembly.

Candidates Compare by issue

Nelly Evelyn Burdette

Democrat

Clinical health psychologist · Lincoln

The gist

Supports access to affordable primary care
Supports more healthcare, housing and support for older residents
Supports housing stability as a community priority
Supports helping small businesses facing rising costs

More about Nelly

View sources (2)

Supports access to affordable primary care
Meet Dr Nelly Burdette
Campaign website · Friends of Nelly Burdette · electnelly.com
“Access to affordable primary care”
Supports more healthcare, housing and support for older residents
Our Focus: Nelly Burdette for RI Senate District 17
Campaign website · Friends of Nelly Burdette · electnelly.com
“That means strengthening healthcare access, housing options, and community support for older residents.”
Supports housing stability as a community priority
Our Focus: Nelly Burdette for RI Senate District 17
Campaign website · Friends of Nelly Burdette · electnelly.com
“Nelly believes stronger communities start with housing stability.”
Supports helping small businesses facing rising costs
Our Focus: Nelly Burdette for RI Senate District 17
Campaign website · Friends of Nelly Burdette · electnelly.com
“believes Rhode Island should be a place where small businesses can not only survive but also thrive”

John Douglas Barr

Independent

The gist

No documented position found.

More about John

Jina Norma Petrarca

Independent

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Jina

Thomas Joseph Paolino

RepublicanIncumbent

Senate Deputy Minority Leader; licensed chauffeur · Lincoln

The gist

Supports ending car tax, cutting sales taxIn office
Supports ending state income tax on Social SecurityIn office
Supports a line-item veto and an Inspector GeneralIn office
Led effort to require high school financial literacy coursesIn office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Thomas

View sources (1)

Supports ending car tax, cutting sales tax
Senator Thomas J. Paolino: Biography
Government record · Rhode Island General Assembly · rilegislature.gov
“eliminating the car tax, lowering state sales tax, implementing zero-based budgeting”
Supports ending state income tax on Social Security
Senator Thomas J. Paolino: Biography
Government record · Rhode Island General Assembly · rilegislature.gov
“eliminating state income tax on social security income, and campaign finance reform”
Supports a line-item veto and an Inspector General
Senator Thomas J. Paolino: Biography
Government record · Rhode Island General Assembly · rilegislature.gov
“Legislation Senator Paolino has introduced or supported includes a line-item veto, an Office of Inspector General”
Led effort to require high school financial literacy courses
Senator Thomas J. Paolino: Biography
Government record · Rhode Island General Assembly · rilegislature.gov
“Sen. Paolino led efforts to pass mandatory Financial Literacy courses in all RI high schools into state law”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.