Joseph McNamara
Rhode Island State Representative, District 19 since 1994. Ran in 17 elections between 1994 and 2024, winning 17. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 32 yrs
- Since 1994
- Bills became law
- 53
- 288 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.4%
- Chamber median 6.6%
- With party
- 100%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +45.7
- 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.
- Education · chair
- Conduct
- Labor
- Rules
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Jun 2026
Became law Jun 2026
Became law Jun 2026
Became law Jun 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where McNamara sits in the Rhode Island House of Representatives
McNamara is closer to the center than 22% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Alex Marszalkowski, Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith, Brandon Potter
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With McNamara’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats100%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Rhode Island House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: McNamara’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | McNamara | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2026 | SB 2575: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES | Not voting | Yes | No | Passed 48–8 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | HB 7538: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY HEALTHCARE… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 54–14 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | SB 2570: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY HEALTHCARE… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 53–14 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | SR 3368: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY RHODE ISLAND'S… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 60–9 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | SB 3370: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION | Not voting | Yes | No | Passed 51–5 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time McNamara was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
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 House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | D+45.7 | D+7.3 | +38.4 |
| 2024 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | — | D+7.3 | — |
| 2022 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | — | D+35.2 | — |
| 2020 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | D+26.7 | — | — |
| 2018 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | D+38.0 | — | — |
| 2016 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | D+21.7 | — | — |
| 2014 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | D+28.6 | — | — |
| 2008 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | D+37.5 | — | — |
| 2006 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2004 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 | Won | D+21.2 | — | — |
| 2000 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 29 | Won | D+40.8 | — | — |
| 1998 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 29 | Won | D+55.5 | — | — |
| 1996 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 29 | Won | D+59.4 | — | — |
| 1994 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 29 | Won | D+32.1 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Rhode Island Board of Elections (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $29.3K
- Spent
- $16K
- Cash
- $46.5K
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections filings through Oct 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 7:18 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| JOSEPH M MCNAMARA State | Active |
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections filings through Oct 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 7:18 PM ET
Seats McNamara has held
- Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 19 · since 2002
- Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 29 · since 1994
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who McNamara has run against
- Patrick E. Maloney Jr. (I) · 2026 election, won
- Ruth M. Page (R) · 2018 election, won
- David D. Mastriano (I) · 2016 election, won
- Maureen L. Ogorman (R) · 2010 election, won
- Robert A. Paquin III (R) · 2008 election, won
- Paul J. Cannistra (R) · 2002 election, won
- Nancy E. Thompson (I) · 1998 election, won
- Ernest E. Young III (R) · 1994 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Rhode Island Board of Elections (unofficial)
How we know McNamara
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/ce92c860-ad04-4cc5-91eb-52add74c98e5
- Wikidata Q16147590
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET