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Ted Nesi

@tednesi.bsky.social
3.2K followers 490 following 1.3K posts

NEE-see. Politics editor + investigative reporter at WPRI 12 (CBS) in RI/MA. Contributor on RI PBS Weekly. Adjunct at Wheaton. #GirlDad and lucky husband.

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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 5h
NEW: Ken Block is the financial leader in the #RIgov race with a month left, tho Helena Foulkes isn't far behind Aaron Guckian is down to about $7,000 - by far the least for a GOP nominee at this point this century Dems way outraising GOP in party money, too www.wpri.com/news/electio...
wpri.com
Block leads Foulkes in campaign cash for RI gov race; Guckian down to $7,000
New financial filings showed the Republican nominee at a financial disadvantage compared with his rivals as early voting looms.
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Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 18h
For decades, there’s been debate... Is it a pineapple? A pinecone? A hand grenade? Enjoyed reporting out this story with @timwhiteri.bsky.social and Johnny Villella. We tracked down the original blueprints 👇 www.wpri.com/target-12/pi...
wpri.com
Pineapple, pinecone or hand grenade? The Federal Hill mystery in Providence
Target 12 uncovered original 1970s blueprints and spoke with the architect’s family about the iconic Providence landmark.
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WPRI 12 @wpri12.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
#WATCH: Target 12 tracked down the original blueprints for "La Pigna" — and the family of the man who designed it. Story by @EliSherman.bsky.social and @TimWhiteRI.bsky.social: www.wpri.com/target-12/pineapple-pi… 
Behind one of Providence's most iconic symbols
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
NEW: Maureen McManus, Providence DPW's deputy director, entered into a separation agreement with the city due to “an irretrievable breakdown in the working relationship." The agreement said McManus "resigned from city employment in good standing.” MORE: www.wpri.com/target-12/dp...
wpri.com
DPW deputy director enters into separation agreement with Providence
Maureen McManus entered into a separation agreement with the city in late September due to “an irretrievable breakdown in the working relationship,” according to documents obtained by T…
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WPRI 12 @wpri12.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Watch now on WPRI 12+: Democrat Chris Markey and Republican Seth Aitken are vying to be the top prosecutor for Bristol County's 20 cities and towns. @timwhiteri.bsky.social @tednesi.bsky.social
wpri.com
12 News Campaign 2026 Debate: Bristol County District Attorney
Democrat Chris Markey and Republican Seth Aitken are vying to be the top prosecutor for Bristol County’s 20 cities and towns.
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Providence Councilman Miguel Sanchez, 28, secured enough votes to become the city’s next council president in the 2027-2031 term. The Democratic nominees for the council caucused last week and voted for other leadership roles, too. MORE: www.wpri.com/news/electio... @wpri12.bsky.social
wpri.com
Miguel Sanchez says he has enough votes to be next council president in Providence
Councilman Miguel Sanchez announced in a news release on Monday that his colleagues are supporting him as Council President for the 2027-2031 term.
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Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
NEW: Rhode Island has agreed to remove another defendant from its lawsuit against companies that worked on the westbound Washington Bridge before it failed in 2023 www.wpri.com/target-12/rh...
wpri.com
Rhode Island drops second company from Washington Bridge lawsuit
The decision comes as attorneys battle over discovery, responsibility and whether the troubled bridge was salvageable
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Ian Donnis @iandonnis.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Come for @tednesi.bsky.social’s parsing of @RIPEC_’s report on our troubled roads ⛏️ Stay for @kimkalunian.bsky.social’s seasonal list of top Halloween stops to visit 🎃 www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
Nesi’s Notes: Oct. 3
Your weekend briefing on local politics and more.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
My Saturday column for Oct. 3 👇 www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
Nesi’s Notes: Oct. 3
Your weekend briefing on local politics and more.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Former state Sen. Dan Connors is leaving the RI Exec. Office of Health & Human Services to be the top lobbyist for the state's hospitals as HARI executive director, per @iandonnis.bsky.social www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/202...
oceanstatemedia.org
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Oct 2, 2026
Time is dwindling as Ken Block tries to reshape the gov race
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WPRI 12 @wpri12.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The two candidates hoping to be elected Bristol County District Attorney squared off Friday on 12 News. Watch the full debate in the latest episode of Newsmakers, airing Friday at 6:30 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 and 10 a.m., and any time on WPRI 12+. w/ @tednesi.bsky.social & @timwhiteri.bsky.social
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Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
BREAKING: An airport contract worker was arrested trying to bring a firearm into a secure area at TF Green. A spokesperson says the TSA "identified" the gun and denied the person access. w/ @Eli_Sherman www.wpri.com/target-12/t-...
wpri.com
T.F. Green worker arrested after trying to bring firearm into airport
Airport officials say security protocols worked as intended, detecting the prohibited item before access was granted.
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WPRI 12 @wpri12.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
South County Health is set to launch a partnership with the Mayo Clinic Care Network next week, Target 12 has learned. Alexandra Leslie has the story: www.wpri.com/target-12/south-county… 
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Big news out of the RI delegation in DC today: @whitehouse.senate.gov and his 3 negotiating partners (Capito, Lee, Heinrich) have announced a bipartisan Senate deal on energy-permitting reform after months of negotiations that also involved the Trump White House thehill.com/policy/energ...
thehill.com
Senators announce long-awaited permitting reform deal
Democratic and Republican senators on Wednesday announced a long-sought deal on permitting reform that they say will speed the construction of the nation’s energy and infrastructure projects while …
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Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
JUST IN: In a blow to the hospitality industry in RI, the US Conference of Mayors has decided not to host its annual meeting in Providence. The event was to be hosted at the RI Convention Center and was expected to draw hundreds to the region in June. www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
US Conference of Mayors pulls 2027 meeting out of Providence
The U.S. Conference of Mayors annual conference was expected to draw hundreds of people to Providence in June.
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Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
NEW: Anthony “Spucky” Spagnolo, a longtime NE mobster who was in the room for a notorious 1989 mob induction ceremony secretly recorded by the FBI, has died. Spagnolo was part of a crew that attempted to wrest control from Providence in the 80s. www.wpri.com/target-12/in...
wpri.com
Mobster at infamous induction ceremony dies at 84
Mobster Anthony “Spucky” Spagnolo was part of a Boston crew that tried to snatch power from Providence during a tumultuous time for the mob.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
NEW: RI's bridges improved substantially over the last decade, but secondary state roads paid the price, a @ripec1.bsky.social study finds RI turns out to be an outlier on a host of transportation metrics - road quality, debt costs, maintenance share Details here www.wpri.com/target-12/st...
wpri.com
Study: RIDOT’s big spending on bridges left roads, maintenance neglected
Rhode Island is an outlier on a host of transportation metrics compared with other states, according to a new analysis by RIPEC.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
UPDATE: Democratic Govs Association just wired $500,000 to RI to support Helena Foulkes - no word yet on if money will go to a TV buy Foulkes was at a DGA event right after the primary, as Ian Donnis reported at the time First outside $ of the general www.wpri.com/news/electio...
wpri.com
Block says poll shows Guckian is a spoiler in gov race; GOP nominee says he’s staying in
The independent candidate said his data indicated he would be ahead of Democrat Helena Foulkes if they were the only candidates.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
One technical note: secretary of state's office confirms RI ballots have already been sent to the printer and mailed to overseas/military voters, so no candidate names can be removed at this point www.wpri.com/news/electio...
wpri.com
Block says poll shows Guckian is a spoiler in gov race; GOP nominee says he’s staying in
The independent candidate said his data indicated he would be ahead of Democrat Helena Foulkes if they were the only candidates.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
NEW: Ken Block says his latest internal poll shows why GOP nominee Aaron Guckian should get out to make it a 2-way race between Block and Helena Foulkes Guckian response: "I'm not going anywhere" Separately, Foulkes is up with her first general-elex TV ad day www.wpri.com/news/electio...
wpri.com
Block says poll shows Guckian is a spoiler in gov race; GOP nominee says he’s staying in
The independent candidate said his data indicated he would be ahead of Democrat Helena Foulkes if they were the only candidates.
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Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NEW: Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. is pushing back against a whistleblower complaint alleging a pattern of alcohol and drug use among town firefighters while on duty. w/ @timwhiteri.bsky.social www.wpri.com/target-12/wh...
wpri.com
Whistleblower alleges Johnston firefighters were drunk, high on duty
Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. stands by his firefighters, dismissing the allegations of widespread on-duty substance abuse.
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Ian Donnis @iandonnis.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Good point from @tednesi.bsky.social - the general election for governor is *unusually* quiet right now, but that will likely change quickly www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
Nesi’s Notes: Sept. 26
Your weekend briefing on local politics and more.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
My Saturday column 👇 www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
Nesi’s Notes: Sept. 26
Your weekend briefing on local politics and more.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Great zoom-out from @iandonnis.bsky.social here about how the RI Democratic Party's slow but steady shift to the left was foretold in legislative elections, one by one www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/202...
oceanstatemedia.org
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Sept. 25, 2026
An early signal of how RI moved in a more progressive direction
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WPRI 12 @wpri12.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Rhode Island’s two candidates for lieutenant governor sparred Friday on 12 News. Watch the full debate in the latest episode of Newsmakers, airing Friday at 6:30 p.m., Sundays at 5:30 and 10 a.m., and any time on the WPRI 12+ TV app. @tednesi.bsky.social @timwhiteri.bsky.social
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
NEW: The LG race looks like the one to watch in RI this fall, per a new UNH Survey Center poll Matos: 48% Loughlin: 44% DK: 7% Foulkes: 44% Block: 25% Guckian: 17% DK: 10% Reed: 53% McKay: 33% DK: 8% McKee job approval: 15/83 Trump job approval: 35/65 www.wpri.com/news/electio...
wpri.com
Poll: Matos, Loughlin in tight race for LG; Foulkes, Reed well ahead
The new UNH survey suggested the lieutenant governor is the most vulnerable Rhode Island Democrat in a major race this fall.
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Some members of the Providence School Board want change at the top. (h/t Dan McGowan) The board plans to discuss the job performance of Ty'Relle Stephens. No vote will be taken. Stephens tells me he welcomes the conversation. www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social
wpri.com
Providence School Board faces internal strife
The Providence School Board is slated to discuss the job performance of its president on Wednesday night.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
NEW: RI's biggest health system, Brown Health, just cut an undisclosed number of “senior-level” jobs as the end of its fiscal year draws near www.wpri.com/business-new...
wpri.com
Brown Health axes multiple execs after $13M operating loss
Rhode Island’s largest health system has been trying to get its operations back in the black this year.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
NEW: @helenabfoulkes.bsky.social campaign confirms it is refunding $10,500 to donors who gave contributions above legal limit Rival @kenblockri.bsky.social says the issue "should cause real concern for Rhode Island voters" www.wpri.com/news/electio...
wpri.com
Block knocks Foulkes over donations above state’s legal limit
The Democratic nominee’s campaign acknowledged it is refunding about $10,500 in donations that should not have been accepted.
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WPRI 12 @wpri12.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
During a visit to RI on Sunday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a roundtable with healthcare workers and spoke out against Medicaid cuts. @tednesi.bsky.social has the details here: www.wpri.com/news/elections/hakeem-…
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Rent control for one!
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
My Saturday column 👇 www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
Nesi’s Notes: Sept. 19
Your weekend briefing on local politics and more.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
. @iandonnis.bsky.social looks at the opportunities and challenges for the Ken Block Gov campaign www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/202...
oceanstatemedia.org
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Sept. 18, 2026
Can Ken Block win the governor’s race as an independent?
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
On @wpri12.bsky.social Newsmakers , @davidmoralespvd.bsky.social, the Dem. nominee for Providence mayor, told @tednesi.bsky.social and @timwhiteri.bsky.social that he plans to start enforcing rent stabilization "towards the fall of 2027, if not the very start of 2028.” www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
Morales: Rent control in Providence could be enforced by next fall at the earliest
State Rep. David Morales, the Democratic nominee for Providence mayor, had his first sit-down television interview since his stunning primary night win.
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
UPDATE: The Providence City Council Claims and Pending Suits Committee has approved a settlement regarding a personnel matter with the DPW's deputy director. Details of the settlement have not been made public. More: www.wpri.com/target-12/pa... @wpri12.bsky.social
wpri.com
Panel OKs settlement for DPW official on paid leave since January
Maureen McManus was quietly placed on paid leave Jan. 10.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
NEW: A week into the general election, independent Ken Block is out with a 5-point plan to address affordability concerns His ideas range from cutting RI's 15.75% taxes/fees on wireless plans to free RIPTA fares GOP's Guckian counters with his "RI Works Smarter" plan www.wpri.com/news/electio...
wpri.com
Gov candidate Ken Block lays out 5-point plan to tackle costs, fees in RI
The independent candidate is targeting charges on utility and wireless bills, as well as expenses related to transportation.
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
EXCLUSIVE: Target 12 obtained police body-worn camera video of the August arrests of Providence bank heist suspects, Tracey Delgado and Stanley Palmer, at their Gloversville, NY home. Full story + more video here: www.wpri.com/target-12/vi... @wpri12.bsky.social
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Tim White @timwhiteri.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The U.S. Department of Justice has sent a letter to Secretary of State Gregg Amore demanding that his office preserve election records, including those from the 2024 election, as a key deadline looms. www.wpri.com/target-12/do...
wpri.com
DOJ demands Amore preserve 2024 election records amid voter roll fight
The letter from the DOJ was sent on the eve of a 22-month deadline where states can discard voting records under federal law.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Rep @sethmagaziner.bsky.social has announced his mother, Suzanne, has died at age 74. She had lived with glioblastoma for several years. Suzanne Magaziner was a dedicated philanthropist in RI and served on many local boards, from Sophia Academy to Trinity Rep (chairing its $18M capital campaign).
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
NEW: Likely GOP nominee Aaron Guckian + indy Ken Block aren't getting state matching funds for their gov campaigns after all (both had initially said they would) Foulkes has raised $5M+ since start of 2025 and is now replenishing her coffers post-primary www.wpri.com/news/electio...
wpri.com
Guckian, Block won’t get state matching funds for gubernatorial campaigns
The Republican and independent gubernatorial candidates will both rely solely on their own fundraising to keep pace with Democrat Helena Foulkes.
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Philip Eil @phileil.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
"The local political scene is clearly going to feel different at the start of 2027. There will be a new governor, either Foulkes or one of her opponents. The General Assembly will have a brand-new speaker and a still-fairly-new Senate president. There will be new mayors in two major cities."
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Ian Donnis @iandonnis.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
As @tednesi.bsky.social notes, @helenabfoulkes.bsky.social’s emphasis on retail politics paid off (and polls were largely on-target this primary season) www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
Nesi’s Notes: Sept. 12
Your weekend briefing on local politics and more.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
My Saturday column 👇 www.wpri.com/news/local-n...
wpri.com
Nesi’s Notes: Sept. 12
Your weekend briefing on local politics and more.
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Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
. @iandonnis.bsky.social flags two post-primary moves by @helenabfoulkes.bsky.social - a TV hit on MSNOW with Lawrence O'Donnell (who often books Foulkes friend @whitehouse.senate.gov) + a visit to Kentucky for a meeting of the Democratic Governors Association www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/202...
oceanstatemedia.org
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Sept. 11, 2026
New forces in RI politics: Foulkes, Morales and Greenman
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
If @davidmoralespvd.bsky.social is successful on Nov. 3, Providence is poised to elect a democratic socialist for mayor. What does that mean? STORY: www.wpri.com/news/electio... @wpri12.bsky.social
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Did rent control decide the Providence mayoral election? Plus, national attention on state Rep. David Morales’ victory in the race for Providence mayor. MORE: www.wpri.com/news/electio... @wpri12.bsky.social
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Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
MAPS: Where voters rejected incumbents in Rhode Island’s biggest races. Interactive maps + breakdowns --> www.wpri.com/target-12/ma...
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
David Morales is out on Cranston St. thanking supporters after last night’s primary win. The Democratic nom for Providence mayor said he’ll use the next few months to prepare his transition into office. One big change: he wants DPW Director Patricia Coyne-Fague out. @wpri12.bsky.social
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Jeff Singer @jeffsinger.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
A good question I don't know the answer to. Most states hold elections for governor and mayor of their capital city at different times, with Rhode Island being an exception. In California, for example, governor races are in midterm years while Sacramento elects its mayor in presidential cycles.
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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
According to the latest numbers from RI BOE, Providence City Council's Ward 9 Democratic nominee could be decided by just TWO votes! In all races, RI BOE is still tabulating remaining drop box votes, overseas/military ballots, and provisional ballots. Very fluid. @wpri12.bsky.social
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