Megan Cotter

Megan Cotter (Democratic Party) is a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, representing District 39. She assumed office on January 3, 2023. Her current term ends on January 5, 2027.

Cotter (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Rhode Island House of Representatives to represent District 39. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Cotter completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Megan Cotter was born in Providence, Rhode Island. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Rhode Island in 2008 and has career experience working as a sales manager.^[1]^[2]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Megan Cotter defeated Justin Price in the general election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Megan Cotter (D)	54.0	4,671
	Justin Price (R)	45.9	3,973
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	7

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,651
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Megan Cotter advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on September 10, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Megan Cotter	100.0	565

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 565
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Justin Price advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on September 10, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Justin Price	100.0	336

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 336
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Cotter in this election.

2022

General election

General election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Megan Cotter defeated incumbent Justin Price and Sean Comella in the general election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Megan Cotter (D)	45.2	3,031
		Justin Price (R)	44.7	2,999
	Submit photo	Sean Comella (Independent)	10.0	670
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	2

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,702
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Megan Cotter advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on September 13, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Megan Cotter	100.0	1,110

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,110
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Justin Price advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on September 13, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Justin Price	100.0	533

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 533
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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2020

General election

General election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Justin Price defeated Megan Cotter in the general election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Justin Price (R)	52.0	4,181
	Megan Cotter (D)	48.0	3,860
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	5

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,046
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Megan Cotter advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on September 8, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Megan Cotter	100.0	212

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 212
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Justin Price advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 on September 8, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Justin Price	100.0	252

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 252
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Gerald Zarrella (R)

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Megan Cotter completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cotter's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Megan Cotter, and I am the State Representative for District 39 in Richmond, Hopkinton, and Exeter. When I ran, I knocked on doors after work and on weekends, and I heard concerns about rising taxes, trash services, funding for our schools and protecting our open spaces. I met many caring people who, like me, were nervous about the future.

As a working mom, I went to the State House to get things done. Rhode Island families deserve better from state government, and we need a voice in the General Assembly that understands this district, and promotes compassion and unity over hatred and division, and gets things done.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

As your state representative, I’ve prioritized safeguarding our forests and natural resources, crucial to our community’s future. I led efforts to address the spongy moth infestation, which killed nearly 25% of Rhode Island’s trees, and established a commission on forest management and fire prevention. Through collaboration, we secured funding for additional rangers and forest management, but this work must continue. Our forests are vital to our environment, economy, and way of life. If re-elected, I’ll keep fighting to protect our forests, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
My track record shows that I can work across party lines to achieve meaningful outcomes, like securing funding for forest management and raising Medicaid reimbursement rates. We need to work together in collaboration and common-sense solutions to address the most pressing issues facing our community.
As your state representative, I successfully fought for and secured increased state funding for our schools—all without raising taxes. If re-elected, I will continue to advocate relentlessly for even more resources to support our children’s education.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The policies I am most passionate about are those that directly impact the future of our community. This includes securing increased funding for our schools, ensuring access to quality healthcare, and preserving our environment. I believe that by investing in education, we are investing in our children’s future and the long-term prosperity of our community. Similarly, healthcare access is a fundamental right, and I’m dedicated to making it affordable and accessible for all. Lastly, protecting our natural resources is crucial for maintaining the character and sustainability of our rural areas. These are the areas where I’ve focused my efforts and will continue to do so because they are the foundation of a strong, vibrant community.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

For me, the most important characteristics for an elected official are honesty, accountability, and a deep commitment to the community. An elected official should always be transparent and straightforward, even when the truth is tough to hear. They should be accountable to the people they represent, ensuring that every decision is made with their best interests in mind. Finally, an official must have a genuine connection to the community, understanding its needs, values, and concerns. It's about being a true advocate, fighting for what matters most to the people you serve.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my legacy to be one of real, lasting impact on the lives of the people in our community. I hope to be remembered as someone who didn’t just talk about change but made it happen—whether it’s securing more funding for our schools, protecting our natural resources, or making healthcare more accessible. I want people to say that I fought for them, that I listened, and that I made their voices heard. Ultimately, I want to leave behind a community that’s stronger, more united, and better off because of the work we did together.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the biggest struggles in my life was dealing with the aftermath of a fire that destroyed my home in 2017. It was a devastating experience, not just because of the physical loss, but because it made me confront the fragility of our lives and the importance of community support. But what got me through was the incredible outpouring of help from neighbors and friends, which reminded me of the strength and kindness that exists in our community. This experience deeply influenced my approach to public service—I know firsthand how crucial it is to be there for each other during tough times.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely, building relationships with other legislators is crucial. Collaboration and cooperation are key to getting things done, especially when it comes to passing important legislation. By working together, we can share ideas, find common ground, and tackle issues more effectively. I’ve built strong friendships and feel comfortable working with almost anyone in the chamber. It’s not just about forging alliances; it’s about pooling our collective knowledge and resources to better serve our communities. Strong relationships among legislators help ensure that diverse perspectives are considered, making the process smoother and more productive for everyone involved.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

At this time, my focus is on serving the people of District 39 and continuing the work we’ve started together. My passion is rooted in making a tangible difference in our community, and that’s where my heart is. While I’m always open to where the future might lead, my priority is ensuring that our voices are heard and our needs are met right here at home. It’s about getting things done where it matters most.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Megan Cotter completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cotter's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm Megan Cotter, and I'm running to represent you and our neighbors in Richmond, Hopkinton, and Exeter at the State House.

Our community needs a state representative who will bring people together to get things done for working families and our seniors. I am a working mom myself, and my husband and I know what it means to count every dollar. In 2017, when our house burned down, we truly lost everything—our furniture, our clothes, our kids’ favorite toys. But caring neighbors like you came together and helped us rebuild from scratch. That experience taught me that anything is possible when our community is united. Yet, some politicians continue to be more interested in dividing us against each other than in making progress on the issues that matter to people like you and me.

I am ready to fight for the real needs of this community that has supported me so much.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I will fight for school funding so that the burden doesn't solely fall on backs of taxpayers.
I will work to reform solar siting laws to reduce the amount of clearcutting and incentivize rooftop and brownfield installations. Taxpayer subsidized solar projects should benefit the occupants of the areas they are installed on.
I will fight to keep the costs of necessities low so that people in our district can prosper and succeed.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I decided to run for office because there aren't many people like us advocating for the issues that impact our everyday lives. I care about the future of our children, their education, and the environment that will be left to them. I care about my elderly neighbors that are struggling to pay their prescription drug costs or their heating bills, or just trying to stay in their homes. I am passionate about being a voice for the middle class and working for the people.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Frances Perkins. She was the first woman to hold a cabinet position in the U.S. She helped develop programs such as social security, and labor union policy, as well as advocating for women's rights.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

It is an elected official's responsibility to be present, participate, and fight for the needs of their specific community. A State representative must earn respect and work cooperatively to effectively deliver results for their community.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to improve the quality of life for the most amount of people in my district as possible.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I firmly believe that the system becomes polluted when legislators are in office for too long and hand-select successors. Politicians can lose sight of why they ran in the first place. I believe in term limits for all offices. We need everyday citizens to be legislators to ensure the government is for the people, by the people.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

It is absolutely imperative to build relationships so that you can communicate your constituents' issues, create buy-in, and work cooperatively to create solutions and deliver meaningful results.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have had the privilege to listen to many people in our district. I have been a community organizer through various activities but I have also knocked on 3,000 doors through this process. There is one story that has particularly stuck with me. We developed a senior yard clean-up for our seniors that are unable to do their own yard work and do not have the means to pay someone to do it. We cleaned the yard of a woman who had lost her husband and felt overwhelmed by the daunting task. I talked to her a few weeks after we cleaned her yard and she said that she is able to have her coffee on her back porch again. She was so grateful to enjoy the home that she worked so hard to keep. We must ensure that we are helping all members of our community.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Megan Cotter did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Ballotpedia Logo Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Megan Cotter campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39	Won general	$62,311	$0
2022	Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39	Won general	$57,901	$0
2020	Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39	Lost general	$26,560	N/A**
Grand total			$146,773	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Rhode Island

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Rhode Island scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2024

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show].

In 2024, the Rhode Island State Legislature was in session from January 2 to June 14.

ACLU of Rhode Island

Legislators are tracked on their votes related to civil liberties.

Environmental Council of Rhode Island

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.

National Federation of Independent Business

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

2023

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show].

In 2023, the Rhode Island State Legislature was in session from January 3 to June 16.

ACLU of Rhode Island

Legislators are tracked on their votes related to civil liberties.

The American Conservative Union

Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

External links

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Candidate

Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

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Officeholder

Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Website

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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 29, 2022
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 16, 2024

Political offices
Preceded by Justin Price (R)	Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39 2023-Present	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:K. Shekarchi

Majority Leader:Christopher Blazejewski

Minority Leader:Michael Chippendale

Representatives

District 1

Edith Ajello (D)

District 2

Christopher Blazejewski (D)

District 3

Nathan Biah (D)

District 4

Rebecca Kislak (D)

District 5

Anthony DeSimone (D)

District 6

Raymond Hull (D)

District 7

David Morales (D)

District 8

John Lombardi (D)

District 9

Enrique Sanchez (D)

District 10

Scott Slater (D)

District 11

Grace Diaz (D)

District 12

Jose Batista (D)

District 13

Ramon Perez (D)

District 14

Charlene Lima (D)

District 15

Chris Paplauskas (R)

District 16

Brandon Potter (D)

District 17

Jacquelyn Baginski (D)

District 18

Arthur Handy (D)

District 19

Joseph McNamara (D)

District 20

David Bennett (D)

District 21

Marie Hopkins (R)

District 22

Joseph Solomon (D)

District 23

K. Shekarchi (D)

District 24

Evan Shanley (D)

District 25

Thomas Noret (D)

District 26

Earl Read (D)

District 27

Patricia Serpa (D)

District 28

George Nardone (R)

District 29

Sherry Roberts (R)

District 30

Justine Caldwell (D)

District 31

Julie Casimiro (D)

District 32

Robert Craven (D)

District 33

Carol McEntee (D)

District 34

Teresa Tanzi (D)

District 35

Kathleen Fogarty (D)

District 36

Tina Spears (D)

District 37

Samuel Azzinaro (D)

District 38

Brian Kennedy (D)

District 39

Megan Cotter (D)

District 40

Michael Chippendale (R)

District 41

Robert Quattrocchi (R)

District 42

Richard Fascia (R)

District 43

Deborah Fellela (D)

District 44

Gregory Costantino (D)

District 45

Mia Ackerman (D)

District 46

Mary Shallcross-Smith (D)

District 47

David Place (R)

District 48

Brian Newberry (R)

District 49

Jon Brien (I)

District 50

Stephen Casey (D)

District 51

Robert Phillips (D)

District 52

Alex Marszalkowski (D)

District 53

Paul Santucci (R)

District 54

William O'Brien (D)

District 55

Arthur Corvese (D)

District 56

Joshua Giraldo (D)

District 57

Brandon Voas (D)

District 58

Cherie Cruz (D)

District 59

Jennifer Stewart (D)

District 60

Karen Alzate (D)

District 61

Leonela Felix (D)

District 62

Mary Messier (D)

District 63

Katherine Kazarian (D)

District 64

Jenni Furtado (D)

District 65

Matthew Dawson (D)

District 66

Jennifer Boylan (D)

District 67

Jason Knight (D)

District 68

June Speakman (D)

District 69

Susan Donovan (D)

District 70

John Edwards (D)

District 71

Michelle McGaw (D)

District 72

Terri-Denise Cortvriend (D)

District 73

Marvin Abney (D)

District 74

Alex Finkelman (D)

District 75

Lauren Carson (D)

Democratic Party (64)

Republican Party (10)

Independent (1)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 29, 2022

[2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 16, 2024

[1]

[2]

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Megan Cotter

Biography

Sponsored legislation

Elections

2024

General election

General election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Endorsements

2022

General election

General election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

2020

General election

General election for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island House of Representatives District 39

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

2022

2020

Campaign finance summary

Scorecards

2024

2023

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2024 Elections

2024 Election analysis

2025 Elections

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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