In this economy?

RI, always blue, never really progressive.

"State politics is governed by big party bosses who set the agenda and block what they don’t like. That means that many progressive causes—like raising the tipped minimum wage, regulating payday loan lenders, or banning assault weapons—never see the light of day."

Rhode Island is full of Republicans who just claim to be Democrat, but they're closet conservatives who will pretend to be "social democrats" then go right ahead and vote like the religious conservative they are.