Cumberland Election Official Resigns After Leaving Republican Party

CUMBERLAND, R.I. — A longtime conservative and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran has resigned from the Cumberland Board of Canvassers after leaving the Republican Party, a move that left the bipartisan election body short a member and drew attention to political divisions affecting even traditionally nonpartisan election roles.

The town’s Board, which works jointly with the Rhode Island Board of Elections to oversee local voting procedures, requires members to maintain the party affiliation under which they were appointed.

Jason King, 51, a three-time Trump voter, said in a text message to SNN, “I unenrolled as a Republican … making me ineligible for the board; I also had to resign from the RIGOP.”

“I did not want to leave the Board of Canvassers. Just some things in the Republican Party that I cannot tolerate or support,” King said.

When asked what led to his decision, King pointed to a recent social media post by former President Donald Trump.

“His post about the Obamas. I despise them, but not because of the color of their skin,” King said. “I think they belong in jail, but not because of the color of their skin. For me that was the final straw.”

Cumberland Republican Town Committee Chair Tim Ruel said the party plans to discuss the role of the Board of Canvassers at its March 9 meeting and indicated a statement regarding King’s departure would be provided afterward. A formal response to King’s resignation was not immediately available.

Under Rhode Island election law, local Boards of Canvassers are structured to be bipartisan, with appointments tied to political party affiliation to preserve balance in election administration. The authority stems from Rhode Island General Laws §17-8, which governs local canvassing authorities, along with municipal ordinances that set board composition. In Cumberland, board seats are designated by party, meaning a member who changes or removes their party enrollment may no longer meet the eligibility requirements tied to that appointment.

Voter registration data shows Rhode Island’s electorate has been shifting toward independent status for years. Unaffiliated voters now make up roughly half of the state’s electorate, while Republicans account for about 14 to 15 percent and Democrats about 36 percent. Since 2018, Republican registration has grown in raw numbers even as Democratic enrollment declined, reflecting a broader move away from traditional party labels rather than a clear partisan collapse. National polling mirrors that trend, with a rising share of Americans identifying as independents despite continued loyalty among core Republican and Democratic voters.

King’s resignation leaves the Cumberland board with a vacancy as local officials continue overseeing upcoming election preparations.