General Treasurer of Rhode Island · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Rhode Island general treasurer race?
James Diossa has the strongest record in the Rhode Island general treasurer race. James Diossa scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. James Diossa's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Micholas Credle (4 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Micholas Credle
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
James Diossa
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- 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.
Micholas Credle
- On the record2026-01-02
Re-registered to vote as a Republican at a Providence address on Jan. 2, 2026, the day he opened his campaign account; records show he last voted in Rhode Island in 2020.
- Credit
Served as a U.S. Army officer with deployments to Haiti and in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn, then retired and moved to Rhode Island in 2019.
James Diossa
- On the record2022-09
Acknowledged errors and omissions in his Ethics Commission financial disclosures and corporate filings, some later corrected, calling them oversights.
- On the record2020
Central Falls raised its 2020 tax levy above the 4 percent state cap under him and refunded or credited $682,000; he called it his finance director's oversight and said the buck stopped with him.
- On the record2018
In 2018 Central Falls moved about $500,000 from a retiree pension account into its general fund and later repaid it; he said he did not know of it in advance.
- Credit2025-12
Launched the RI AnchorHome program in December 2025, committing $60 million (since grown to $80 million) to back low-interest first-time homebuyer mortgages.
- Credit2012-12
Elected mayor of Central Falls in December 2012 at 27, after the city's bankruptcy, and served two terms; Moody's upgraded the city's bond rating during his tenure.
Sources: Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, April 2, 2026, Wikipedia, James Diossa
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. Campaign reports on file with the Board of Elections. In 2022 he acknowledged errors and omissions in Ethics Commission disclosures, some since corrected; no penalty, so not scored (E1).
Sources: Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, Feb. 9, 2026, Providence Journal, via Yahoo, Sept. 2022
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Micholas Credle. Retired U.S. Army officer with combat deployments; no conduct finding found.
James Diossa. City councilor, two-term mayor of Central Falls and general treasurer since 2023, 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.
Micholas Credle. Military service as an Army officer (E10) with no official finding of misuse of office.
James Diossa. Sworn mayor (2013 to 2021) and general treasurer since 2023; no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results.
Source: Wikipedia, James Diossa
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Micholas Credle. Army officer who managed redeployment operations, later managed family property and leads a Newport social club; no government office or finance post.
James Diossa. Two terms as Central Falls mayor and nearly a full term as general treasurer; the first full term ends January 2027 (E20).
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. Runs the office's pension, college savings and housing programs, including the $80 million RI AnchorHome first-time buyer fund he launched.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. Two channels: a campaign video and release on his record, and press interviews. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, April 2, 2026, Ballotpedia, James Diossa
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Micholas Credle. Providence resident who first moved to Rhode Island in 2019, left for a job elsewhere and returned in spring 2025.
James Diossa. Born and raised in Central Falls; most of his late-2025 contributors had Rhode Island addresses (no dollar share computed).
Sources: Wikipedia, James Diossa, Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, Feb. 9, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. Led Central Falls for eight years after its bankruptcy and now heads the office responsible for a public employees pension fund of about $12 billion or more.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. As treasurer launched RI AnchorHome (more than 40 first homes closed by March 2026) and held the first unclaimed property auction in over a decade ($1.1 million), per his office as reported.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Micholas Credle. No public record found.
James Diossa. 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 general treasurer race?
James Diossa has the strongest record in the Rhode Island general treasurer race. James Diossa scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. James Diossa's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Micholas Credle (4 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Rhode Island general treasurer race in 2026?
Micholas Credle (Republican), James Diossa (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Micholas Credle a good candidate for General Treasurer?
Micholas Credle has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is James Diossa a good candidate for General Treasurer?
James Diossa scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 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.