By Tessa Roy, WPRO News and the Associated Press
The state Democratic Party has pulled its controversial endorsements of state House candidate Michael Earnheart and state Senate candidate Gregory Acciardo after strong backlash and national media attention.
“As a policy matter, the people in each district should decide who gets chosen when no district committee exists, because they’re the people closest to the candidates and have more information about those candidates than the state party could ever have,” said Party Chair Joe McNamara in a statement. “In practice, what we’ve learned over the last few days only reinforces my belief that this is the right policy going forward.”
The endorsements, particularly that of Trump supporting ex-Republican Earnheart over incumbent Representative Moira Walsh, unleashed the frustrations of some Democrats who said the party wasn’t representing the views of women and had failed to take action on issues important to them, including sexual harassment.
“Over the last four years as chair, I’ve worked really hard to make sure our Party is more open and transparent and is a place where all Democrats can feel they can have a voice and make a difference. I regret that these endorsements are inconsistent with that work and believe the actions we have taken today brings us closer to where we aspire to be,” McNamara said.
Earnheart said he does not want to be a distraction and accepts the decision, but will remain in the race.
Walsh reacted on Twitter, saying the party made the right decision, but it still didn’t earn any “brownie points.”
https://twitter.com/RepMoira_Jayne/status/1014871443476238339
Bridget Valverde, who is running against Acciardo, tweeted she was “pleased” by the Party’s rescinding of the endorsements, but that this action was only a “first step.”
“Until we see party leadership taking concrete steps to support women who are fighting to even the playing field for everyone, the fundamental problem remains,” she said.
Thank you to everyone who spoke out about @RIDemParty's questionable endorsements. Rescinding these endorsements is good step, but more needs to be done. pic.twitter.com/FY8426mDQJ
— Bridget Valverde (@bridget4ri) July 5, 2018
A letter from the Democratic Party says no new endorsements will be made in either race.
