Healey Shakes Up Rhode Island Governor’s Race

Robert Healey

The Rhode Island Moderate Party has elected to replace their gubernatorial nominee, James Spooner, for medical reasons. Mr. Spooner has reportedly undergone surgery and will be unable to continue his campaign.

That’s where things get interesting.

The Moderate Party has recruited well-known candidate Robert Healey to replace Spooner in November. Healey, best known as creator of the now-defunct Cool Moose Party, has run for statewide office six times in Rhode Island. Bids for governor in 1986, 1994 and 1998 were followed by runs for Lt. Governor in 2002, 2006 and 2010.

Healey captured over 9% of the vote in the 1994 governor’s race, holding both major party candidates below 50%. His runs for Lt. Governor have been even more successful, earning him 19% of the vote in 2002, 13% in 2006 and in his most recent bid in 2010, Healey captured over 39% of the vote.

Meanwhile, RI Moderate Party founder Ken Block narrowly lost a Republican primary challenge to Cranston mayor Allan Fung.

According to Ballot Access News, the Rhode Island Moderate Party must secure at least 5% of the vote in order to remain ballot qualified for future elections.