SEIU Emerges as Rhode Island's Most Powerful Union After Election Sweep

SEIU Emerges as Rhode Island’s Most Powerful Union After Election Sweep

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There’s a new sheriff in town in Rhode Island labor politics, and his name isn’t a union at all. It’s the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, according to reporting from GoLocalProv. While other heavy-hitters like the AFL-CIO and the Laborers’ International Union made their own plays, SEIU didn’t just play the game—it changed the rules, delivering a clean sweep in the state’s most competitive races.

The SEIU Sweep: A Blueprint for Power

Forget the old guard. The real power in the Ocean State now belongs to SEIU. Think of the most intense political battles from the recent cycle: the governor’s race, the Providence mayor’s contest, the lieutenant governor’s office, and the attorney general’s primary. In every single one, SEIU’s preferred candidate won.

This wasn’t a coincidence. It was a meticulously crafted strategy built on one simple, potent tool: bodies. While other unions can write big checks to campaigns, SEIU brought an army of volunteers to the table. The union’s State Council, a coalition of five local chapters across Rhode Island, deployed its members not just to donate, but to knock on doors, make phone calls, and energize voters. This isn’t just about showing up; it’s about showing up with a purpose, a passion that money can’t buy.

And the results speak for themselves. SEIU-backed Helena Foulkes won the governor’s race decisively. In Providence, their champion, State Representative David Morales, defeated incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley. SEIU also helped elect Lieutenant Sabina Matos and Attorney General-elect Kim Ahern, cementing a new, progressive governing bloc.

Overview of 2026 midterm election results in Rhode Island

There’s a strong educational component. Elections matter. I’d like officials to be the ones that are, you know, making decisions on our members’ jobs and how it’s going to impact them.

— Dan Potts, SEIU Rhode Island State Council Executive Director

Behind this machine is Dan Potts, the Executive Director of the SEIU Rhode Island State Council. He explained the union’s approach in a phone interview with GoLocalProv. The strategy, he said, is built on a foundation of education and long-term relationship building. It’s not about asking for favors; it’s about holding allies accountable and ensuring the people in power truly understand the lives of working Rhode Islanders.

A Six-Year Investment in David Morales

Nowhere is this long-term vision clearer than in the SEIU’s relationship with Mayor-elect David Morales. Potts said the alliance began six years ago, when Morales was first elected to the state legislature. “His story is a really powerful one and one that I think mirrors a lot of the stories that our members hold,” Potts explained. “He’s always been, you know, very present in the community, very present where our members live.”

This wasn’t a transactional endorsement. It was a deep, personal connection forged over years. Morales, a former community organizer, didn’t just court the union’s endorsement; he became a close and consistent ally in the State House, fighting for policies that directly impacted SEIU members. When he decided to run for mayor, the union didn’t just support him—they became the engine of his campaign, turning out the vote in neighborhoods that other campaigns often overlook.

For Morales, the support reflected his long-standing commitment. “It’s one that’s been built over the course of the last five or six years, and it’s a very close relationship,” Potts said. “I would say with our membership.”

The Numbers That Don’t Lie

While opponents might outraise their rivals, they can’t easily replicate the sheer human energy that SEIU poured into this election cycle.

Consider SEIU’s recent campaign against Care New England during the Butler Hospital strike. The union’s action, which some estimate cost the hospital group as much as $50 million, was financially devastating.

With their newly elected allies in the state’s highest offices, SEIU now has a direct line to power.

So, what does this new reality mean for Rhode Island?

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