Politics & Government

Once Arrested Rep Drops Out of Race for District 71

The incumbent Rep. Daniel Gordon says he is no longer running after failing to collect enough signatures to be named on the ballot.

The state representative, who was , told WPRO Tuesday morning he is no longer running for office after failing to collect enough signatures. 

Incumbent state Rep. Dan Gordon (Dist. 71, Little Compton, Portsmouth and Tiverton) submitted 61 names to Portsmouth Town Hall on July 13; however, only 28 of the names were accepted by the Board of Canvassers, reports The Providence Journal. Gordon was required to submit 50 signatures by the deadline. 

Gordon told WPRO the names were not accepted due to a redistricting error on his part. 

Find out what's happening in Portsmouthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Gordon's name will now not appear on the November ballot. He could still run as a write-in candidate. His opponent, retired Portsmouth police officer Dennis Canario, is running unopposed. 

The freshman representative also told WPRO that he , but voluntarily left on his own. To hear the full interview with Gordon, click here

Find out what's happening in Portsmouthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Gordon, who planned to run as a Libertarian, became the center of a widespread media inquiry last year after his September 2011 arrest as a fugitive from justice in Massachusetts.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here