Flipped from RepublicanCalledUnofficial resultsIncumbent defeated
Rhode Island Senate District 17
Rhode Island State Senate · Rhode Island
Nelly Burdette flipped the seat for Democrats, winning by 4.6 points over Thomas J. Paolino.
Nelly BurdetteDemocrat · winner
43.5%4,849
Thomas J. PaolinoRepublican · incumbent
38.9%4,334
Jina N. PetrarcaIndependent
13.0%1,445
John Douglas Barr IIIndependent
4.7%520
Write-inOther party
0.1%6
11,154 votes
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections unofficial resultsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 1:22 PM ET
Where the race moved
Against the 2024 presidential vote
The seat's recent races
Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Nelly BurdetteThomas J. Paolino
$23.6K
Raised by the campaign
$33K
$17.7K
Spent by the campaign
$17K
$5.1K
Cash on hand
$20.7K
Campaign money: Rhode Island Board of Elections, through Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections campaign filingsUpdated Oct 26, 2026
Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)
Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.
- Nelly Burdette
- 84%
- Thomas J. Paolino
- 16%
- Projected margin
- D+7.9
The candidates
Nelly Burdette (D)Thomas J. Paolino (R)
Incumbent, Rhode Island State Senate, first elected 2016
Incumbent, Rhode Island State Senate, first elected 2016
Jina N. Petrarca (I)
Also on the ballot: John Douglas Barr II (Independent), 4.7%; Write-in (Other party), 0.1%