Democratic candidate Stefano Famiglietti secured a decisive victory in Rhode Island’s Fourth District special election on Tuesday, outperforming former Vice President Kamala Harris’ showing in the same district by 55 points. Knewz.com has learned that Famiglietti, running to replace late state Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, defeated Republican Alex Asermely with more than 83% of the vote.
One of the strongest Democratic performances in a local race

Famiglietti’s margin of more than 67 percentage points marks one of the strongest Democratic performances in a local race this year. According to reports, he framed his campaign around community ties and a moderate platform. “I am extremely humbled to have been elected to serve the community in which I was born and raised in the state Senate, and I look forward to the opportunity to work on the state level to support our District,” he said in a statement following his win.
Rhode Island Democrat leaders praise Famiglietti’s victory

Rhode Island Democratic leaders praised Famiglietti’s victory, linking it to the legacy of his predecessor. Senate President Valerie Lawson, Majority Leader Frank Ciccone III and Majority Whip David Tikoian said in a joint statement, “Congratulations to Senator-elect Stefano Famiglietti on his successful campaign and well-earned victory in the election. His deep roots in the community and clear understanding of the priorities of District 4 have resonated with voters, and his commitment to public service is a strong reflection of the values exemplified by Senate President Dominick Ruggerio.”
Why the special election result matters

Special elections often serve as an indicator of party enthusiasm, even if their outcomes do not always predict results in larger, regularly scheduled contests. It is worth noting that Democrats have consistently overperformed in special elections across the country in 2025, raising expectations for a potential blue wave in the 2026 midterms. In this case, Famiglietti’s win far surpassed Democratic benchmarks. Harris carried the district by only 11 points in 2024, while President Joe Biden won it by about 17 points in 2020. Former President Barack Obama’s margins in the district had been stronger, underscoring how Democratic dominance in Rhode Island had narrowed in recent cycles. Ruggerio’s long incumbency masked some of these trends, as he remained highly popular locally and won reelection last year with nearly 95% of the vote.
Comparing the special election results nationwide

It has been reported that the Rhode Island outcome comes amid mixed performances in special elections across the country. In Delaware, Democrat Alonna Berry narrowly defeated Republican Nikki Miller in House District 20, a seat Harris had carried by nine points, with just 121 votes separating the two candidates. Earlier this year, liberal-aligned Susan Crawford defeated conservative-backed Brad Schimel in a high-profile Wisconsin Supreme Court race, while Democrats also exceeded expectations in two Florida legislative specials. Republicans have had notable successes as well, particularly in local contests such as the San Diego County Board of Supervisors race.
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Author: Samyarup Chowdhury
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