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| Rhode Island House of Representatives District 53 | ||
| Current incumbent | Bernard Hawkins  | |
Rhode Island's fifty-third state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Bernard Hawkins.
Rhode Island state representatives represent an average of 14,034 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 13,978 residents.
Members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Rhode Island legislators assume office the first Tuesday in January.
Article III of the Rhode Island Constitution describes the requirements to hold office.
| State legislators | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $15,959/year | No per diem is paid. |
If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Secretary of State must call for an election to be held anywhere from 70 to 90 days after the vacancy occurred. No election can be held if the vacancy happens after the first Monday in February during an election year. The person elected to fill the seat serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.
Elections for the office of Rhode Island House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for September 8, 2020. The filing deadline is June 24, 2020.
Bernard Hawkins (D) defeated Richard Poirier (R) in the general election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 53 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Bernard Hawkins (D) |
52.5
|
2,860 |
|
|
Richard Poirier (R) |
47.2
|
2,569 | |
| Other/Write-in votes |
0.3
|
17 | ||
|
|
Total votes: 5,446 |
Bernard Hawkins advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 53 on September 12, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Bernard Hawkins (D) |
100
|
946 |
|
|
Total votes: 946 |
Richard Poirier advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 53 on September 12, 2018.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Richard Poirier (R) |
100
|
384 |
|
|
Total votes: 384 |
Elections for the Rhode Island House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and a general election would have taken place on November 8, 2016, if no candidate had won a majority of votes in the primary. The candidate filing deadline was June 29, 2016.
Incumbent Thomas Winfield defeated Stephanie Westgate in the Rhode Island House of Representatives District 53 general election.Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 53 General Election, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Thomas Winfield Incumbent |
57.21% | 3,540 | |
| Republican | Stephanie Westgate | 42.79% | 2,648 | |
| Total Votes | 6,188 | |||
| Source: Rhode Island State Board of Elections | ||||
Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 53 Democratic Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas Winfield Incumbent (unopposed) |
Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 53 Republican Primary, 2016
| Party | Candidate | |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | Stephanie Westgate (unopposed) |
Elections for the Rhode Island House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 25, 2014. Incumbent Thomas Winfield was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Daria Chase was removed from the ballot before the Republican primary. Winfield was unchallenged in the general election.
Elections for the office of Rhode Island House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 11, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 27, 2012. Incumbent Thomas Winfield (D) defeated David Bibeault (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.
Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 53, General Election, 2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas Winfield Incumbent |
63% | 3,875 | |
| Republican | David Bibeault | 36.7% | 2,259 | |
| Other | Write-in | 0.3% | 20 | |
| Total Votes | 6,154 | |||
From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 53 raised a total of $134,676. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $7,482 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.
Campaign contributions, Rhode Island House of Representatives District 53
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $9,382 | 2 | $4,691 |
| 2014 | $11,300 | 1 | $11,300 |
| 2012 | $15,225 | 2 | $7,613 |
| 2010 | $8,730 | 2 | $4,365 |
| 2008 | $17,150 | 2 | $8,575 |
| 2006 | $27,798 | 3 | $9,266 |
| 2004 | $36,481 | 2 | $18,241 |
| 2002 | $5,375 | 2 | $2,688 |
| 2000 | $3,235 | 2 | $1,618 |
| Total | $134,676 | 18 | $7,482 |
