By Cynthia Drummond for BRVCA

October 4th 2025

RICHMOND – On Saturday afternoon, at the Higher Grounds coffee house, Richmond Town Council President Samantha Wilcox announced that she is running for the Rhode Island Senate in 2026, against Republican incumbent Elaine Morgan.

First elected to the Senate in 2014, Morgan has repeatedly defeated challengers for her District 34 Senate seat. The district is the state’s largest by area, comprising Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter, West Greenwich and part of Charlestown.

Present for the announcement were Rep. Megan Cotter, D-Richmond, Exeter, Hopkinton, Karen Reynolds, who represents Richmond on the Chariho School Committee, and Hopkinton Town Council member, Sharon Davis.

Wilcox was introduced by Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee Chair, Gregory Avedesian. Reading a brief, prepared speech, she promised that if she is elected to the Senate, District 34 will no longer be overlooked. Residents and local council members have often complained that southwestern Rhode Island is ignored by the rest of the state.

“We are Rhode Island’s best kept secret, and now I’m running for Senate, because our rural communities need a fighter,” she said. “We will not be a secret at the State House.”

Wilcox described some of her accomplishments on the Town Council, including her opposition, in 2023, to legislation that would have permitted tax breaks for The Preserve.

“I learned that what you vote for is just as important as what you vote against,” she said. “In June of 2023, I was the only opposing vote on a resolution that would have allowed the Town Council to make tax stabilization deals with wealthy homeowners within The Preserve and bypass voter approval for the same. In my view, we should pass on tax savings to our residents, not those buying their third or fourth vacation home. And our current senator pushed that forward. She supported it.”

(The tax bill, which Cotter did not support, passed in the Senate but was sent back “for further study” in the House.)

Wilcox’s vision for the district would include more affordable housing for young families and seniors, more predictable and equitable funding for the Chariho and Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School Districts, support for small businesses, accessible health care, and accountable government.

“I want to create the Inspector General’s office to investigate the expenditure of public funds, to ensure that all of our tax dollars are spent wisely,” she said.

Wilcox also pledged to protect the environment and rural character of the area.

Cotter said she expected the senate race to be a closely contested one, as it has been in past elections.

“Senate District 34 is going to be a tough race, but that also means it’s an important one,” she said. “I believe there’s still a lot of room to make progress for our community, and we need a senator who will truly work for us. Someone who listens, shows up, and puts people before politics.”

Speaking after her announcement, Wilcox, who favors in-person chats with voters, said she would continue that approach, meeting people face to face and hearing their concerns.

“Conversations. Talking with people, listening to people,” she said.

Elaine Morgan did not respond to a request for comment.