William W. O'Brien
Rhode Island State Representative, District 54 since 1968. Ran in 9 elections between 1968 and 2022, winning 9. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 58 yrs
- Since 1968
- Bills became law
- 58
- 261 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 13.3%
- Chamber median 6.6%
- With party
- 98%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +92.3
- 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.
- Corporations · first vice chair
- Rules · first vice chair
- State Lottery Permanent · chair
- Finance
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Jun 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where O'Brien sits in the Rhode Island House of Representatives
O'Brien is closer to the center than 64% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Cherie Cruz, Teresa Tanzi, Evan Shanley
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With O'Brien’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats98%
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: O'Brien’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | O'Brien | 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 O'Brien 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 54 | Won | D+92.3 | D+6.8 | +85.5 |
| 2022 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | D+15.6 | — |
| 2020 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2016 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 54 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | D+11.8 | — | — |
| 1970 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 28 | Won | D+16.1 | — | — |
| 1968 | Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 28 | Won | D+12.7 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Rhode Island Board of Elections (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $39.1K
- Spent
- $32.9K
- Cash
- $11.8K
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.
| Jon D Brien State | Active |
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections filings through Oct 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 7:18 PM ET
Seats O'Brien has held
- Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 54 · since 2012
- Rhode Island House of Representatives, District 28 · since 1968
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who O'Brien has run against
- Write-in (I) · 2026 election, won
- Kenneth J. Amoriggi II (I) · 2012 election, won
- John J. Oconnor Jr. (R) · 1970 election, won
- Nils G. Broms (R) · 1968 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Rhode Island Board of Elections (unofficial)
How we know O'Brien
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/4352dbd3-90e5-4cf3-9bf6-accff7592c33
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET