Cranston, RIVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Cranston City Council Election 2026

9 of 9

council seats up

7 contests

17 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council Ward 1 · Unopposed

City Council Ward 2 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 3 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 4 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 5 · Unopposed

City Council Ward 6 · 1 seat

City Council Citywide · Vote for up to 3

The council has six ward seats and three citywide seats; all nine council seats are on the ballot.

4 notes on these statements

Ward 1 incumbent Bridget Graziano withdrew from the race minutes before the June 24 filing deadline, so the Ward 1 seat has no incumbent running. Cranston Herald

Avery Mangahas is the only candidate for Ward 1, and Michael Traficante is the only candidate for Ward 5. Cranston Herald

Kristen Haroian holds the Ward 2 seat and is running for a citywide seat; Sara Haupt, Gregory Charpentier and Jesse Dooley are running for Ward 2. Cranston Herald

Steven Stycos, Kristen Haroian and Emilia Vaziri advanced from the September 9 Democratic primary for the three citywide seats. RI Board of Elections · Sep 15, 2026

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesCity budget and taxes, Local bond questions, Flock license plate camerasKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Early voting begins

Wed, Oct 14, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

City budget and taxes

Where it standsThe council unanimously rejected a 7.4% levy increase in April 2026, then unanimously approved a revised budget in May with a 4.6% one-year levy increase.

What's on the tableHow the city closes its deficit, how closely the council oversees spending, and how much local money goes to schools.

  • The council unanimously rejected Mayor Ken Hopkins' fiscal year 2026-27 budget, which sought a 7.4% levy increase; the city faces a deficit of nearly $10 million. WJAR · Apr 29, 2026
  • On May 15, 2026 the council unanimously approved a revised $347 million budget with a 4.6% tax levy increase for one year. WJAR · May 15, 2026
  • Council President Dan Wall's proposed ordinance would require council approval of city contracts, purchase orders and change orders of $100,000 or more; the city solicitor called it an overreach. Uprise RI

Local bond questions

Where it standsSix bond questions totaling $51 million will be on the November 3 ballot.

What's on the tableVoters decide whether the city may borrow; the council would still have to vote to proceed with any bonds if voters approve them.

  • The ballot questions make up a $51 million request covering schools, public safety equipment, parks and playgrounds, public buildings, streets, sidewalks and storm drains. Cranston Herald
  • Council President Dan Wall said that if voters approve the bonds, the council will still have to vote to proceed with them. Cranston Herald

Flock license plate cameras

Where it standsThe city's police have used Flock license plate readers since August 2021, and the mayor's office has defended their use.

What's on the tableWhether and how the council regulates the police department's use of Flock cameras and the data they collect.

Smaller home lots

Where it standsTwo proposed zoning ordinances that would allow smaller home lots were discussed by the council in June; the City Plan Commission said they go too far.

What's on the tableWhether to reduce minimum lot sizes in residential zones.

  • In the Herald's questionnaire, the proposals are described as aligning zoning with the existing character of neighborhoods in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 5, while the City Plan Commission said they go too far in reducing lot sizes. Cranston Herald

Overnight street parking

Where it standsOvernight parking was among the neighborhood issues raised at the Herald's candidate forum.

What's on the tableWhether the city keeps its overnight parking rules or moves to a permit system.

  • At the Herald forum, candidates favored exploring location-specific overnight parking permits, provided streets are wide enough for emergency vehicles. Cranston Herald

Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. What should Cranston do about Flock license plate cameras?

  2. 2. Should Cranston reduce minimum lot sizes for single- and two-family homes?

  3. 3. Should the council approve city contracts and spending of $100,000 or more?

  4. 4. What should the city do with local funding for public schools?

  5. 5. What should Cranston do about its overnight street parking ban?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

0 stay (not up this year): 9 on this ballot

9 council seats. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

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