![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/SMILEY.avif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nProvidence Mayor Brett Smiley answers questions during a press conference on Dec. 16, 2025. (Danielle Parhizkaran\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Incumbent Brett Smiley, who converted to Judaism in 2024 while in office, was bested by state Sen. David Morales in the Democratic primary in this deep blue city. Morales, a democratic socialist, carried endorsements from leading progressives, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and California Rep. Ro Khanna. With 99% of ballots counted, Morales had garnered 52.5% of the vote to Smiley\u2019s 47.5%.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, pro-Smiley flyers were defaced with Hitler mustaches and devil horns, acts which his opponent condemned.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s Democratic primary also serves as a preview for a significant general election vote on divestment. In November, Providence will become the largest American city to cast a vote on a measure that, despite not naming Israel directly, could stop the city from investing in companies linked to Israel. <\/p>\n
Morales supports the binding divestment vote, while Smiley and local Jewish and pro-Israel groups have opposed it. The mayor called the ordinance \u201cboth unenforceable and likely in violation of existing state law\u201d in a statement to Jewish Insider.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, Morales criticized Smiley for participating in a mayoral summit run by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, in which Smiley serves in a leadership capacity. Morales accused the group of suppressing pro-Palestinian speech and not being transparent about its funders. <\/p>\n
The Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative, which promotes business ties between the state and Israel, opposes both the ballot initiative and Morales. Avi Nevel, the group\u2019s founder, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency prior to the primary that Morales was \u201cfueled by pro-Palestinians and Israeli haters.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a night of overthrowing incumbents in the state, as Rhode Island\u2019s sitting governor also lost his primary to an intra-party challenger. That race, however, did not pivot on Israel: Gov. Daniel McKee\u2019s popularity in the state has sunk following a scandal involving the closure of a major bridge.<\/p>\n