DemocratIn office since Nov 2020

John Burke

Rhode Island State Senator, District 9 since 2020. Ran in 3 elections between 2020 and 2024, winning 3. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Rhode Island State Senator, District 9

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 6 yrs; Since 2020
Bills became law: 130; 577 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 0.0%; Chamber median 1.8%
With party: 97%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +87.2; Won 2026
Next election: 2028; Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies · vice chair
Labor and Gaming · chair
Housing and Municipal Government
Judiciary

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 577 sponsored · 130 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

SB 3166 AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY
Became law Jun 2026

SB 3252 AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN
Became law Jun 2026

SB 3315 AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES
Became law Jun 2026

SB 3047 AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE
Became law Jun 2026

SB 2974 AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- RIGHT-OF-WAY
Became law Jun 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Burke sits in the Rhode Island State Senate

Burke is closer to the center than 79% of the chamber's Democrats.

Closest: Melissa Murray, Frank Ciccone, Val Lawson

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET

With Burke’s party

Votes with the chamber's Democrats97%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Rhode Island State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Burke’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

Date	Bill	Burke	Dem. majority	Rep. majority	Result
Jun 12, 2026	HB 7654: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE AND SALE	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 33–4
Jun 11, 2026	HB 8005: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES	Yes	Yes	Yes	Passed 35–2
Jun 11, 2026	HB 7030: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTHCARE WORKER PLATFORM ACT	Yes	Yes	Yes	Passed 35–3
Jun 11, 2026	HB 7020: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 29–9
Jun 11, 2026	HB 8400: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- QUONSET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION	No	Yes	No	Passed 29–9

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Burke was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

202020212022202320242025202620272028Rhode Island State Senate, District 9

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

Year	Race	Result	Margin	Seat	+/−
2026	Rhode Island State Senate, District 9	Won	D+87.2	R+2.1	+89.3
2024	Rhode Island State Senate, District 9	Won	—	R+2.1	—
2022	Rhode Island State Senate, District 9	Won	D+11.3	D+5.6	+5.7
2020	Rhode Island State Senate, District 9	Won	D+17.2	—	—