Projo Politics Blog

Update: Dennigan to challenge Langevin for Congress

4:39 PM Mon, Aug 03, 2009 |
By News staff    Email this author |   Email this entry

By Steve Peoples
Journal State House Bureau

State Rep. Elizabeth M. Dennigan will challenge fellow Democrat and five-term incumbent Congressman James R. Langevin in the 2010 contest for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District.

Dennigan confirmed her decision in an interview with The Journal Monday afternoon. The formal announcement will come at a "campaign kick-off" event Tuesday evening.

"I will be declaring tomorrow," Dennigan said. "We think we can make a positive difference in Congress. I look at this as an exciting challenge."

Dennigan, 54, is a lawyer and an emergency nurse at Kent Hospital. A member of the General Assembly since 1997, she currently serves on the powerful House Finance Committee.

While she grew up in West Warwick, Dennigan currently lives in the 1st Congressional District. The East Providence resident soon will establish residence in the 2nd District by moving to a summer home in Narragansett.

Langevin has consistently faced challenges since first winning a Congressional seat in 2000, but they have come largely from Republicans. Dennigan, an East Providence Democrat first elected to the General Assembly in 1996, faces an uphill battle.

She will take on a firmly-entrenched Democrat who enjoys a substantial fundraising advantage and the support of Rhode Island's Democratic machine.

State Democratic Party Chairman William Lynch issued a statement backing Langevin Monday afternoon:

"While I respect Rep. Dennigan and admire the work she has done for her constituents in Pawtucket and East Providence, I can think of no better advocate for the people of Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional district than Jim Langevin," Lynch said.

Dennigan had this response:

"I'm not going to win this based on the support of other [party] officials solely. I really need to get out there and get to know the people of the 2nd District," she said.

Dennigan met privately with Langevin in late June to express interest in running for the seat.

When asked about the likely challenge, Langevin spokeswoman Joy Fox recently had this to say: "The congressman takes every challenge seriously. He looks forward to a good-spirited campaign."

Former Brown Prof. Jennifer Lawless was the last Democrat to challenge Langevin from the left. Largely seizing on the congressman's pro-life position, she spent more than $359,000 in the 2006 Democratic primary and earned 38.2 percent of the vote in the losing effort.

In today's interview, Dennigan declined to discuss her platform in detail, preferring to release those details at Tuesday's event. But she suggested that abortion would not be a key issue.

"I don't think, from what I sense as a legislator, that is what is on the forefront of most people's minds," she said.

Langevin already has a substantial fundraising head start for the Sept. 14, 2010, primary election, just over a year away.

He raised $188,805.50 for the three-month period between April 1 and June 30, while spending $65,034.24, according to his latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. That left the congressman with $300,053.76 on hand at the end of the quarter.

Dennigan cannot begin raising money for a congressional bid until she establishes a federal candidate committee. That was one of the factors in her decision to announce this week, she said.

Her state campaign committee last week reported no cash on hand -- although she held at least one fundraiser in early June and repaid an outstanding loan balance of $8,536.28, according to the State Board of Elections.

While money isn't everything, it's an important factor in congressional elections. In 2006, for example, the average winner in a U.S. House race spent $1.25 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

-- The Providence Journal has been following this story today as it develops, Our initiap report was posted at 1:23 p.m.

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Comments

The Architect said:

"While she grew up in West Warwick, Dennigan currently lives in the 1st Congressional District. The East Providence resident soon will establish residence in the 2nd District by moving to a summer home in Narragansett."

Does this mean she will be resigning her seat in the General Assembly, or does she have some plan to represent East Providence and Pawtucket from her new "residence" in Narragansett?



David said:

Ok adding to the Architect's comment Can we Assume that before she starts fundraising other than having a federal committee she also has to have the 2nd Congressional Districts Residence. I guess during her announcement on Tuesday for the Congressional seat will be that she is resigning her General Assembly Seat, which will cause a special election?? Just what the state & cities need, more bills. By the way does the state pay for it or does Pawtucket & East Providence split it or is it a 3 way split?



The conversation with our congressional delegation during the summer 2009 recess that apparently will not take place!?

Yes, I have been thinking of the themes and messages for our Rhode Island Congressional delegation home from Washington, DC for their summer break.

However I see that all of the cowards in the US Congress from RI are ducking for cover. Yes, while their national PR campaign kicks in to counter attack and distort the legislative situation during the Congressional recess. I am not surprised given the pink play book of Radicals and revolutionaries that they will hide from the daylight of citizens’ open and honest give and take of debate at the nation’s liberty pole of each town and city.

Rather this sorry cast of characters today offers the clap trap baggage of socialism sharing the misery of a Marxist Fascist National Socialist makeover of the USA into an appendage of “The New World Order”. We have been told that we must give up our liberty freedom and national sovereignty suspending our US constitution and the rule of law! We need an explanation as to exactly what this band of cowards from the state of Rhode Island is afraid of? That is - why have they not challenged and questioned this National confluence of events. Have they forgotten that they work for us and not the lobbyist of both domestic and foreign evil in Washington, DC?

However, today lacking their taking responsibility to the people of RI as serious – given the citizens duty to stay informed and engaged in government - we need to sustain the level of conscientiousness such that adult learning and critical thinking will continue. Yes, especially in the state of RI during August Congressional break and into early September. With all due respect your previous macaroni suppers & Senior center donuts aren’t a viable supplement. Nor do your congressional email Blogs about “apples, oranges and bananas” when we are very concerned about Liberties, freedoms and our national sovereignty.

Seems to me that we should not squander an opportunity to keep the heat up with several messages such that our questions get answered and RI citizens have some input on the formulation of policy going forward.

We do not want the RI Congressional Delegation to return to Washington, DC this fall and continue with their rubber stamp approach leading to a rapid shift to a Marxist Fascist National Socialist USA and companion miseries.

The recent alternative Tea Party / National Liberty Pole forums of providing input to government seems to really upset the Marxist Fascist National Socialist Washington crows! Yes, including Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid & aka Barry S / Barry Obama / B H Obama & companion brown shirt National Fascist thought police. Seems that they have not solicited and do not want any input from the citizens that own the government and that ultimately they work for. Nor are the congress more often subscribing to and adhering to the principals of our US Constitution.

Back home in Rhode Island – recently some citizens handing out copies of the US Constitution and adjunct Bill of Rights as well upset the far left radicals. Could it be that this very US Constitution is what you in congress and POTUS are rapidly giving away under a transition to a Marxist Fascist National Socialist government?

Perhaps handing out copies of companion patriot music would be well received in congress this fall and might even reset your priorities back to the people that you represent.

I was as well thinking that our founding fathers went to church for several days when that had reached impasse in resolving the wording of the US constitution. Subsequently they returned and passed one of the most enduring documents in the history of the world! Oh, another footnote, the first congress as well ordered the printing and distribution to US schools 10,000 bibles. Perhaps a similar undertaking today (returning God to the classroom) would benefit and enrich both teacher, students and country alike.

This fall when you all return to the US Congress I suggest that together you stop what you are doing and attend church morning to night for several days. Hopefully you first of all will not create any further harm to our nation and its people. Secondly you should ask God to examine your hearts and heads and speak to you all individually and collectively. Subsequently when you return to the peoples congress you will be freed of curses, demons and both domestic and international evil influences.

The conversation that we had hoped to have with our congressional delegation on their summer break back in Rhode Island was a bit lengthy reflecting the some of the very scary issues originating from the first six months of the current congress;

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes we are now getting another very distorted mixed message from Washington, DC on taxes.

The Nations financial crash (how did we let this happen).

The economic recovery with companion unemployment.

What exactly is the plan and progress to date?

Classic Socialist redistribution of the wealth is now in process! The citizens accumulated earnings and possessions being seized and given to those that have “drank the kool-aid of socialism” e.g. illegal aliens and thugs of socialism.

National Health Care eliminates both the new borne & the retired while rationing a poorer quality socialism based program resulting in a common suffering and elimination of innovation and hope..

The US Government has demonstrated that it can not run anything very well already. Why should we trust them with our health? This looks like usurping yet another segment of our shrinking economy.

Cap and trade the false science and misguided earth religion that will further erode US mfg (wealth generation) and significantly increase taxes on each and every family. Again freedom of choice being replaced with socialism dedicating how and where you live and what you do significantly eliminating any and all opportunity for you and your family. Yes, we have energy issues that can be solved given correct funding and management etc.

Government today not reflecting the citizens vision if America. Yes, with a clear and present danger as congress and POTUS is now in a rush to create a new patronage under class - Marxist Fascist National Socialist mob.

Government rapidly consolidating & usurping the peoples governments power and authority

Such directly in conflict with the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Government now in the process with deployment of a Marxist socialist dogma that eliminates the citizens and their constitutions highly valued freedom liberty and national sovereignty.

Fundamental values at stake today - under the US Constitution the people own the government and have the last say. In contrast today "the government ignores the people as it believes that it knows best". Laws being assembled and passed in the middle of the night that reflects a major paradigm shift in the core values of the USA with no national debate and input from the people.

The POTUS is very rapidly being exposed as an alleged usurper and alleged fraud in his credentials and requirements to hold the office of President of the United States. He refuses to provide the fundamental documentation required of any US citizen getting a drivers license or making application for a US DOD Security Clarence or professional employment! Rather he has deployed the peoples government to attack any and all that question his vetting to the office and or question the steamroller now in congress that is intended to elimination of freedom liberty and national sovereignty. This is totally unacceptable and is the first priority of business this fall for our congress and national court system.

Today the process of American democracy execution is being corrupted by the peoples very own government. Yes, thru a variety of means loyal citizens and constitutional moderates are being attacked victimized marginalizes and threatened in a rein of terror. The right to free assembly is being interfered with. Their right to free communications is being interfered with in a variety of ways (including internet active interference). Yes, the citizens very constitution and bill of rights is under direct attack today in the name of the peoples government!

The former free press and main stream (print and electronic broadcast) media has been compromised and corrupted into a monopoly and dispenser of propaganda in support of a Marxist Fascist takeover or the USA.

The in place social systems are being diluted and compromised by the deliberate inclusion of illegal aliens and other non contributing ineligibles creating a new underclass of political patronage. Those that paid into these social security and the like all their working life are being clearly victimized.

The peoples government clearly exhibits evidence of corruption and incompetence and significantly influenced by both domestic and international evil forces. That is both national political parties have pandered to the internal evil of FED, BILDERBERG, CFR (Counsel For Foreign Relations) , Trilateral Commission, et al.

The rule of law under God is being eroded and rapidly being replaced with the rule of man in a radical Marxist fascist national socialist dictatorship.

The last general election for POTUS saw the US economy deliberately popped in support of influencing the general election outcome.

Today our country is being prepared for a one world government dictator ship.

How do we step back from the abyss of losing our country and companion Liberties, Freedoms and National Sovereignty? This is what each and every citizen individually and collectively is responsibly for protecting and defending. The US Constitution provided both the tools and the guidance along with the freedom, liberty and sovereignty to execute this defense. We do not have the luxury to wait until the mid term elections to step in and take our country back from incompetence’s, corruption and influences of both domestic and international evil.

Again, yes we have lots of challenges to solve in America. Yes, while our constitution still offers the best solution for a government we remain an imperfect union. We have a common bond together under our constitution and together must stay informed and participate in our government beyond general elections or even party primary. Yes, Liberty freedom and National sovereignty requires eternal vigilance.

Perhaps we should be looking at the RI Constitution as to the vehicle to better influence our Congressional delegation to Washington, DC up to and including a recall and replacement?

William F Horan

Constitutional Moderate

Middletown, Rhode Island.

August 06, 2009




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