Wilcox Unseats Morgan in Senate District 34
Democrat Samantha Wilcox defeated longtime Republican Sen. Elaine J. Morgan in the Rhode Island Senate District 34 race.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Samantha Wilcox won the Rhode Island Senate District 34 race with 52.61% of the vote, or 6,721 votes, over Sen. Elaine J. Morgan, who received 47.34% and 6,048 votes. The result ended Morgan's 12-year tenure in the seat.
Why it matters
The outcome changes the representation of Senate District 34 after a dozen years under Morgan. Wilcox's prior service on the Richmond Town Council and environmental issues were cited as factors in voter support.
Wilcox won 6,721 votes to Morgan's 6,048, a margin of 673 votes, with Morgan winning only West Greenwich by 66.19%. The extraction does not indicate how the district's historical margins compare with this result or what legislative priorities the new senator will pursue.
The players
Samantha Wilcox
A Democrat who was first elected to the Richmond Town Council in 2022 and has served as its president since 2024, she won the Senate District 34 seat over the incumbent.
Elaine J. Morgan
A Republican who held the Senate District 34 seat for 12 years before losing to Wilcox in the 2026 election.
The details
Voters in Senate District 34 chose between Wilcox and Morgan, and results were reported town by town. Wilcox's Town Council experience and environmental issues were cited as drivers of support, and she was endorsed by the Rhode Island AFL CIO, Clean Water Action, Climate Action Rhode Island and the R.I. Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals. Morgan was endorsed by Stand for Health Freedom, Make Rhode Island Healthy Again and the R.I. League of Businesses.
Timeline
2022: Wilcox first elected to the Richmond Town Council.
2024: Wilcox became Richmond Town Council president.
November 4, 2026: Wilcox defeated Morgan in the Senate District 34 election.
Political Context
The election ended Morgan's 12-year hold on Senate District 34, and Wilcox's win reflects Democratic strength in the district's Charlestown, Hopkinton, Richmond and Exeter towns. Morgan's narrow loss was offset only by her strong showing in West Greenwich, where she won 66.19% of the vote.
Residents of Senate District 34 will now be represented by Wilcox rather than Morgan, which could affect the state policies that reach their towns. The extraction does not specify which bills or issues will shift first.
The takeaway
Voters who want to understand how a new state senator's background shapes policy can look at local council records, such as Wilcox's Richmond Town Council service, before forming expectations. Tracking committee assignments after the new session begins will show how the seat's priorities develop.
Further reading
For broader context, explore Elections coverage across Rhode Island.
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