Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Rhode Island lieutenant governor race?
John Loughlin has the strongest record in the Rhode Island lieutenant governor race. John Loughlin scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Sabina Matos at 57, as of October 9, 2026. John Loughlin's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sabina Matos's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
John Loughlin
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Sabina Matos
57 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
John Loughlin
- On the record2025-11-15
Hosted 'The John Loughlin Show' on WPRO-AM for nearly 13 years, announcing his candidacy on his final broadcast in November 2025.
Source: WPRI, via MSN, Nov. 15, 2025
- Credit2024-05-16
Retired in 2024 as public affairs officer of VA Providence after earlier work as a VA claims representative.
- Credit2005
Represented Rhode Island House District 71 from 2005 to 2011 and served as House minority whip in 2009 and 2010.
Sources: WPRI, via MSN, Nov. 15, 2025, Wikipedia, John J. Loughlin Jr.
- Credit
Served in the Army and Air National Guard, led soldiers in Bosnia and Iraq, and retired as an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel.
Sources: Providence Journal, via MSN, Sept. 25, 2026, VA Providence Health Care, May 16, 2024
Sabina Matos
- On the record2026-10-07
Debated Republican John Loughlin twice, on WPRI Sept. 25 and NBC 10 Oct. 7, 2026.
Source: WJAR, via MSN, Oct. 7, 2026
- On the record2025-06-02
Forged signatures were found on her 2023 congressional nomination papers; consultant Holly McClaren, whose firm the campaign hired, pleaded no contest in 2025 and got probation. Matos was not charged.
Sources: Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, June 2, 2025, Ocean State Media, June 2, 2025
- Credit2026
The General Assembly passed her bill banning new restrictive covenants that keep grocery stores from opening.
- Credit2021-04-13
Confirmed by the state Senate 34 to 0 as lieutenant governor in April 2021 after Gov. Dan McKee nominated her; she had been Providence City Council president.
Sources: Wikipedia, Sabina Matos (citing WPRI and Providence Journal), Providence Journal, via MSN, Sept. 10, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
John Loughlin. Campaign reports on file with the Board of Elections. No ethics or campaign finance finding found. PolitiFact rated three 2010 statements False or Pants on Fire; over 10 years old, not scored (E1).
Source: WPRI, via MSN, Oct. 7, 2026
Sabina Matos. Campaign reports on file with the Board of Elections. No ethics or campaign finance finding against her found; she was not charged in the 2023 signature fraud case (see Record).
Source: WPRI, via MSN, Oct. 7, 2026
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
John Loughlin. No public record found.
Sabina Matos. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
John Loughlin. Debated Sabina Matos on WPRI on Sept. 25 and on NBC 10 on Oct. 7, 2026.
Source: WJAR, via MSN, Oct. 7, 2026
Sabina Matos. Debated John Loughlin on WPRI on Sept. 25 and on NBC 10 on Oct. 7, 2026.
Sources: Providence Journal, via MSN, Sept. 25, 2026, WJAR, via MSN, Oct. 7, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
John Loughlin. Military officer, state representative and federal employee with no conduct finding found.
Sabina Matos. Providence City Council member and president, then lieutenant governor since 2021, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
John Loughlin. Military service ending as an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, three terms as a state representative and VA federal service; no official finding of misuse of office.
Sources: Providence Journal, via MSN, Sept. 25, 2026, VA Providence Health Care, May 16, 2024
Sabina Matos. Sworn lieutenant governor since April 14, 2021; served as a 2020 presidential elector. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results.
Source: Wikipedia, Sabina Matos
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
John Loughlin. Three terms in the Rhode Island House (District 71, 2005 to 2011), including minority whip; military command in Bosnia and Iraq (E9).
Sources: WPRI, via MSN, Nov. 15, 2025, Wikipedia, John J. Loughlin Jr.
Sabina Matos. Lieutenant governor since 2021 (first full term ends January 2027) and earlier Providence City Council president. E20's full-term condition for a 4 is not yet met.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
John Loughlin. Specific proposals: move non-generation charges off electric bills into the general fund and create an independent Office of Inspector General. His minority whip post was more than 10 years ago.
Sources: Providence Journal, via MSN, Sept. 25, 2026, WPRI, via MSN, Nov. 15, 2025
Sabina Matos. Pursued a specific grocery-access agenda within the office's advocacy role, including a bill banning new restrictive covenants on grocery stores.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
John Loughlin. Several channels: two televised debates, a weekly WPRO radio show for nearly 13 years (ended 2025), and a campaign energy-plan page. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: WPRI, via MSN, Nov. 15, 2025, Loughlin campaign site
Sabina Matos. Two channels: two televised debates and a campaign issue page. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Matos campaign site, Ballotpedia, Sabina Matos
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
John Loughlin. Raised in Rhode Island and educated in Portsmouth and Lincoln public schools, per his campaign; represented Tiverton in the House. In-state donor share not computed.
Sabina Matos. Has lived in Providence since the mid-1990s and represented Ward 15 on the City Council for a decade. In-state donor share not computed.
Source: Wikipedia, Sabina Matos
Management
Can build and run an organization.
John Loughlin. Owned a television, radio and film production company and served as VA Providence public affairs officer; sizes not established.
Source: PolitiFact, John Loughlin
Sabina Matos. Runs the lieutenant governor's office; no audit or campaign finance finding found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
John Loughlin. No public record found.
Sabina Matos. One enacted result found: the General Assembly passed her bill banning new restrictive covenants that block grocery stores.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
John Loughlin. No public record found.
Sabina Matos. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
John Loughlin. No public record found.
Sabina Matos. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
John Loughlin. No public record found.
Sabina Matos. Confirmed lieutenant governor by the state Senate 34 to 0 in April 2021.
Source: Wikipedia, Sabina Matos
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
John Loughlin. No public record found.
Sabina Matos. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Rhode Island lieutenant governor race?
John Loughlin has the strongest record in the Rhode Island lieutenant governor race. John Loughlin scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Sabina Matos at 57, as of October 9, 2026. John Loughlin's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Sabina Matos's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Rhode Island lieutenant governor race in 2026?
John Loughlin (Republican), Sabina Matos (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is John Loughlin a good candidate for Lieutenant Governor?
John Loughlin scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Sabina Matos a good candidate for Lieutenant Governor?
Sabina Matos scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Rhode Island race scored, and the Rhode Island 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.