Megan Cotter

Megan Cotter is an American politician representing the 39th district in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, she was first elected in November 2022.

Early life and personal life

Cotter grew up in Elmhurst, Providence. After graduating from Classical High School in 2002, she triple majored in English, Comparative Literature, and Classical Studies at the University of Rhode Island. She works for the seafood distributor Foley Fish.[1]

Political career

Cotter first ran for the District 39 seat in 2020, losing to incumbent Republican representative Justin Price by about four percentage points.[2] In a 2022 rematch, she defeated Price by 32 votes, 3,031 to 2,999, in a three-way race that also included independent candidate Sean Comella; after the narrow tally, Price requested a recount, which the Rhode Island Board of Elections conducted without changing the outcome.[3][4][5] She assumed office on January 3, 2023, and serves on the House committees on Education, Health and Human Services, and Small Business.[1]

In a third consecutive contest against Price, Cotter won re-election on November 5, 2024, defeating him with about 54 percent of the vote.[6][7] The Rhode Island Board of Elections certified 4,671 votes for Cotter to Price's 3,973, a margin of 698.[8] Cotter won even though Donald Trump carried all three towns in the district, and she was credited with—and described a strategy of—appealing to Republican-leaning voters.[9][10]

Ahead of the 2026 election, Cotter filed for re-election without a Democratic primary challenger; two Republicans, Paul Michaud and Jasmin Roy, filed to contest the District 39 seat.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "State of Rhode Island General Assembly". www.rilegislature.gov. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Megan Cotter". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Megan Cotter pulls ahead in race for House District 39". The Boston Globe. November 11, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  4. ↑ "After recounts, no changes in three R.I. House races". The Boston Globe. November 18, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  5. ↑ "2022 General Election – Representative in General Assembly District 39". State of Rhode Island. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  6. ↑ "2024 RI Election: General Assembly Results". The Boston Globe. November 6, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  7. ↑ "(Updated) Decision 2024: Cotter defeats Price in rematch to retain seat in 39th House District". The Westerly Sun. November 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  8. ↑ "2024 General Election – Summary Report" (PDF). Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ Gagosz, Alexa (October 15, 2024). "The key to this Washington County Democrat winning her re-election bid: Republican voters". Rhode Island Current. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  10. ↑ "How progressive state Rep. Megan Cotter won re-election in a conservative Rhode Island district as Trump rolled to victory". The Public's Radio. November 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Declared safe: Most incumbent state lawmakers unopposed after filing deadline passes". Rhode Island Current. June 24, 2026. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
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