The Ballot Brief
Providence County, Rhode Island

Rhode Island Senate District 17

4 candidates are tracked for Rhode Island Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nelly Burdette, John Douglas Barr II, Jina N. Petrarca and Thomas J. Paolino. Candidate information follows official Providence County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Nelly Burdette (Democratic), John Douglas Barr II (Independent), Jina N. Petrarca (Independent), Thomas J. Paolino (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Rhode Island Senate District 17; Thomas J. Paolino is the sitting member, per the Board of Elections' incumbent marker on the September 9 primary results. Source: the Department of State's declared-candidates report and the Board of Elections' September 9, 2026 primary results (unofficial until certified).

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Thomas J. Paolino, is on the ballot.

Rhode Island › Providence County › Rhode Island Senate District 17

Nelly Burdette

Democratic

Top priorities

  • Strengthening community health and social services
  • Supporting small businesses

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Nelly Burdette of Lincoln is the Democratic candidate for Rhode Island Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Rhode Island Department of State's declared-candidates report and the Board of Elections' September 9, 2026 primary results. A psychologist and first-generation immigrant who serves as Chief Clinical Officer at the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island, per electnelly.com. Would be the first woman to represent District 17 in the Rhode Island Senate and the first psychologist elected to the chamber, per Rhode Island Current (via Steve Ahlquist).

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

John Douglas Barr II

Independent

Biography

John Douglas Barr II of Lincoln is the Independent candidate for Rhode Island Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Rhode Island Department of State's declared-candidates report and the Board of Elections' September 9, 2026 primary results. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the Department of State's declared-candidates report is the only verifiable source for John Douglas Barr II.

Jina N. Petrarca

Independent

Biography

Jina N. Petrarca of Lincoln is the Independent candidate for Rhode Island Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Rhode Island Department of State's declared-candidates report and the Board of Elections' September 9, 2026 primary results. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the Department of State's declared-candidates report is the only verifiable source for Jina N. Petrarca.

Thomas J. Paolino

Thomas J. Paolino

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Thomas J. Paolino of Lincoln is the Republican candidate for Rhode Island Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Rhode Island Department of State's declared-candidates report and the Board of Elections' September 9, 2026 primary results. Thomas J. Paolino is the sitting member for the district, per the Board of Elections' incumbent marker on the primary results. Has represented Senate District 17 since 2017 and won reelection in the November 2024 general election, per State of Rhode Island General Assembly. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the Department of State's declared-candidates report is the only verifiable source for Thomas J. Paolino.

Next on your ballotRhode Island Senate District 18

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Rhode Island Senate District 17 in 2026?

4 candidates are tracked for Rhode Island Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Nelly Burdette, John Douglas Barr II, Jina N. Petrarca and Thomas J. Paolino. Candidate information follows official Providence County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Rhode Island Senate District 17 election in Rhode Island?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Rhode Island are on the Rhode Island election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Providence County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Providence County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Rhode Island election office, or see the full Providence County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Providence County ballot

72 tracked races in Providence County, Rhode Island. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Rhode Island Senate District 19Rhode Island Senate District 20Rhode Island Senate District 21See all 72 Providence County races
Candidate profiles
Nelly Burdette, full profileJohn Douglas Barr II, full profileJina N. Petrarca, full profileThomas J. Paolino, full profileOfficial Rhode Island election office