News
Rep. Cicilline wins re-election in R.I.
Gay former mayor of Providence won re-election to Congress on Tuesday in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans 3 to 1
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Gay Rep. David Cicilline won re-election to Congress on Tuesday from Rhode Island.
Cicilline, a former two-term mayor of Providence, should have had a relatively easy race for a second term in office in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 3 to 1 margin, according to most political observers in Rhode Island.
But the openly gay Democratic congressman became the target of intense criticism by both Republicans and many Democrats last year when news surfaced that he allegedly concealed a $110 million or greater budget deficit for Providence during his last year as mayor.
Earlier this year, Cicilline apologized for a remark he made while campaigning for his first term in the House in 2010 that Providence’s finances were in “excellent” shape, saying his choice of words was not accurate.
Anthony Gemma, his challenger in the Democratic primary, raised the Providence fiscal issue as a major part of his campaign. However, Cicilline won the primary with 60 percent of the vote, leading some to believe that voters might not hold the Providence budget shortfall against Cicilline, who argued that it was due mostly to the national recession and a large cutback in city funding by the state government.
Doherty, however, raised the issue in the general election campaign, saying Cicilline’s handling of the city’s fiscal issues raised serious questions about his character and credibility.
Ray Sullivan, campaign director for Marriage Equality Rhode Island, a statewide group advocating for a same-sex marriage law before the state legislature, said that while Doherty expressed opposition to same-sex marriage, neither he nor his campaign raised same-sex marriage or other LGBT issues to attack Cicilline.
Cicilline is a strong supporter of marriage equality and is a co-sponsor of a House bill to repeal the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act. He’s also a co-sponsor of all other LGBT supportive bills pending in Congress, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA.
Sullivan and others supporting Cicilline said Doherty, while steering clear of gay rights issues, unleashed a barrage of negative TV ads attacking Cicilline on non-LGBT issues. One accused Cicilline of having ties to a child molester and murderer whom Cicilline represented in court more than 20 years ago when he worked as a defense lawyer.
“What do a child molester, a murder and a violent attacker all have in common? Defense attorney David Cicilline,” said the narrator of the ad, which was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said the ad represented the worst form of “gutter politics.” Other Cicilline supporters denounced the ad for seeking to link Cicilline to the acts of criminals that lawyers have a duty to represent in court under the nation’s criminal justice system.
Six months ago, prior to the Democratic primary, polls showed Cicilline trailing Doherty by more than 10 points, but by early October Cicilline made what some called a remarkable recovery, gaining a six point lead over Doherty. But following the attack ads by Doherty in October, Cicilline’s lead narrowed to just one point less than a week before the election in what most pollsters called a statistical tie.
Former President Bill Clinton was among a long list of prominent Democrats who endorsed Cicilline. The Providence Journal, which endorsed Cicilline two years ago, endorsed Doherty this time.
Hungary
New Hungarian prime minister takes office
Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar took office on Saturday.
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party on April 12 defeated then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition. Vice President JD Vance less than a week before the election traveled to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, and urged Hungarians to support Orbán.
Orbán had been in office since 2010. He and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
The European Commission in 2022 sued Hungary, which is a member of the EU, over the country’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law. The European Union’s top court, the EU Court of Justice, on April 21 struck down the statute.
The EU while Orbán was office withheld upwards of €35 billion ($41.26) in funds to Hungary in response to concerns over corruption, rule of law, and other issues.
Hungarian lawmakers in March 2025 passed a bill that banned Pride events and allowed authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who participate in them. MPs later amended the Hungarian constitution to ban public LGBTQ events.
Upwards of 100,000 people last June defied the ban and marched in Budapest’s annual Pride parade.
“Congratulations to [Péter Magyar] on becoming prime minister of Hungary,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.
“This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest,” she added. “The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times.”
“We have important work ahead of us,” noted von der Leyen. “For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.”
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Congratulations to Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on being honored with this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health. Amy Nelson, senior director of Legal Services, said, “Congresswoman Sarah McBride is working to make healthcare accessible to all, and this award recognizes her support of healthcare as a human right. Our legal program supports families facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and safe – families that Congresswoman McBride champions with a deep understanding of the issues they face and the legislative expertise of how to support them.”
McBride, in a press release, said, “I am honored to accept this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health — an organization that has spent 40 years doing vital work to ensure every person can access the dignity of care. In the wealthiest and most developed nation on earth, the ability to receive care should not be a matter of luck—it should be the law of the land. I am proud to be recognized as a partner in this work and to support Whitman-Walker Health in their mission to build a healthier society for all.”
Congratulations also to Wes Drummond who will join Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach, Del., as its third artistic director. Managing Director Joe Gfaller said, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers, to ensure Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage, and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.”
On accepting the position Drummond said, “I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as artistic director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together. Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking, cultural force, that champions fearless storytelling.”
Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minn., from 2021 to 2026, including four years as executive director followed by one year as executive producing artistic director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, he has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theaters across the country, directing both musical theater and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Wes earned his MFA in directing, Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director, Susan H. Schulman.
Virginia
Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan
Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan that voters approved last month.
Ten of 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts favor Democrats in the plan that passed by a 51-48 vote margin in last month’s referendum.
The Human Rights Campaign PAC is among the groups that support it. The court by a 4-3 majority invalidated the referendum results.
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