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Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy Endorses Kim Ahern for Attorney General

Press Release

Kennedy will join Ahern on Tuesday, September 1 for a series of campaign stops

August 21, 2026 (PROVIDENCE, RI) — Former Rhode Island Congressman and national mental health advocate Patrick J. Kennedy today endorsed Kim Ahern for Rhode Island Attorney General, joining a growing list of more than 40 local and national leaders, unions, Democratic organizations, abortion rights groups, women’s rights groups, and LGBTQ+ rights groups supporting Ahern’s candidacy.

“Kim Ahern understands that public safety and public health go hand-in-hand,” said former Congressman Patrick Kennedy. “She knows we need to break the cycle of addiction and mental illness by expanding diversion programs that connect people to treatment instead of unnecessarily pushing them deeper into the criminal justice system, and she led important work on this issue in the Governor’s office.”

Kennedy added, “Kim also knows we can’t stand by while corporations target our children. Whether it’s social media, online platforms, sports betting, predictive markets, or the next addictive industry looking to profit from young people, someone has to stand up and fight back, and there’s no one I trust more than Kim.”

“Kim Ahern has the experience, the compassion, and the determination to lead on these issues. That’s why I’m proud to support her for Attorney General, and I hope you’ll vote for her on September 9th,” concluded Kennedy.

“Patrick Kennedy spent sixteen years in Congress fighting for Rhode Islanders and a lifetime advocating for stronger mental health systems, better access to addiction treatment, and more robust protections for our youth,” said Kim Ahern. “I’m grateful for our decades of friendship and honored by his support of our campaign. Together, we’ll continue his important work of improving access to mental health care for all Rhode Islanders and strengthening safeguards for our children.”

Kennedy will join Ahern on Tuesday, September 1 for a series of campaign stops across Rhode Island. More details to follow.

Former Congressman Kennedy joins a growing list of people and organizations endorsing Kim Ahern’s campaign for Attorney General, including:

  • United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP)

  • Ironworkers Local 37

  • UA Local 51 Plumbers & Pipefitters

  • EMILYs List

  • Vote Mama PAC

  • Victory Fund

  • LPAC

  • Senator Jacob Bissaillon

  • Senator Alana DiMario

  • Senator Meghan Kallman

  • Senator Melissa Murray

  • Senator Bridget Valverde

  • Senator Lammis Vargas

  • Representative Karen Alzate

  • Representative Edith Ajello

  • Representative Teresa Tanzi

  • Central Falls City Councilwoman Tatiana Baena

  • East Greenwich Town Councilman Michael Donegan

  • East Greenwich Town Councilman Michael Zarrella

  • Pawtucket City Councilwoman Yesenia Rubio

  • Portsmouth Town Councilman & Portsmouth Democratic Town Chairman Juan Carlos Payero

  • Providence City Councilwoman Shelley Peterson

  • Providence City Councilwoman Ana Vargas

  • Providence School Board Region 1 Committeeman Corey Jones

  • Former Rhode Island Attorney General Jeff Pine

  • Former Senator Myrth York

  • Former Senator Rhoda Perry

  • Former Senator Donna Nesselbush

  • Former Representative Linda Kushner

  • Charlestown Democratic Town Committee

  • Narragansett Democratic Town Committee

  • Scituate Democratic Town Committee

  • Burrillville Democratic Town Committee

  • Woonsocket Mayor Christopher Beauchamp

  • Woonsocket Democratic City Committee

  • Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, Jr.

  • Johnston Democratic Town Committee

  • Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action

  • Deborah DeBare, National Leader in Domestic Violence Prevention

  • Former Governor and DNC Chair Howard Dean