This is a Democratic district located in Rhode Island’s East Bay region, including the town of Bristol. This special election became necessary after Democrat Laufton Ascencao, who first won this seat last year, declined to take the oath of office—and in a bizarre twist, the seat isn't even vacant.
Ascencao became embroiled in controversy after it was revealed post-election that he'd lied to the local Democratic town committee about a mailer in support of other local Democrats he was supposed to prepare. Ascencao claimed he'd sent out the mailer but never did, then falsified an invoice for his work to make it appear as though the literature had in fact gone out. Democrats pressured Ascencao not to take his seat, and he complied.
There are four candidates on the ballot for this race: one Democrat, one Libertarian, and two independents. The Democrat is political science professor June Speakman, who handily won a primary last month. William Hunt, the Libertarian, also ran for this seat in the 2018 election and was Ascencao’s lone opponent. The two independents are James McCanna Jr. and Kenneth Marshall.
Marshall held this seat as a Democrat for three terms but decided not to seek re-election in 2018 due to a campaign finance scandal of his own. However, the state secretary of state allowed him to stay in office through the special election because of Ascencao's decision to step aside before getting sworn in, and he is again seeking this seat.
Marshall didn't seek the Democratic nomination for the special election, apparently due to lingering bitterness over his fate last year: He recently emailed his constituents to accuse “self-proclaimed ‘Progressive Democrats’” of manipulating “Rhode Island voter’s minds in a quest for power.” That appears to be a shot at Ascencao, whose primary challenge to Marshall from the left last year may have been a contributing factor in Marshall's decision not to run for a fourth term.
Despite the campaign finance controversy and unique setup of candidates, this is solidly blue territory that voted for Hillary Clinton 56-38 and Barack Obama 61-37.
Update: Democrat June Speakman, a political science professor, won this Bristol-area district that has been the site of multiple recent campaign finance controversies. In a four-way contest, Speakman led the way with 40 percent. Libertarian William Hunt was the runner-up with 29 percent. Democrat-turned-independent "incumbent" Kenneth Marshall was third with 23 percent, while independent James McCanna Jr. rounded out the voting with 8 percent. The Democrats maintain a wide advantage in the Rhode Island House of Representatives after this hold.