Rhode Island General Treasurer

	Rhode Island General Treasurer
	; ; ;
	General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$137,510
2025 FY Budget:	$23,886,874
Term limits:	2 terms
	Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Rhode Island general laws, § 42-10-1
Selection Method:	Elected
	Current Officeholder
	Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa; Democratic Party; Assumed office: January 3, 2023
	Elections
Next election:	November 3, 2026
Last election:	November 8, 2022
	Other Rhode Island Executive Offices
	Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The General Treasurer of Rhode Island is an elected executive position in the Rhode Island state government. The treasurer is the state's chief banker and financial officer, responsible for receiving and disbursing all state funds.^[1]

Current officeholder[edit]

The current Rhode Island General Treasurer is James Diossa (D). Diossa assumed office in 2023.

Authority[edit]

The Office of the General Treasurer, with the general treasurer as its head, is established in the Rhode Island Constitution and Section 42-10-1 of the Rhode Island general laws.^[2]

§ 42-10-1:

There shall be a treasury department. The head of the treasury department shall be the general treasurer. The general treasurer shall perform the duties required by this chapter, chapters 11 and 15 of title 5; chapter 4 of title 35; chapter 21 of title 44; and all other provisions of the general laws and public laws insofar as those powers and duties relate to the general treasurer and the treasury department. He or she shall receive all revenues of the state except as may otherwise be specified by law. He or she shall disburse only such sums of money as are authorized by the department of administration, except as may otherwise be provided by law.^[1]

Qualifications[edit]

According to the Rhode Island Secretary of State, candidates for general treasurer must be:^[3]

at least 18 years old.
a registered voter.
a U.S. Citizen.
a resident of Rhode Island for at least 30 days.

Vacancies[edit]

Article IV, Section 4 of the state Constitution addresses vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office of secretary of state, attorney general, or treasurer, the Rhode Island General Assembly elects a successor to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. If the vacancy occurs when the general assembly is not in session, the governor appoints a person to fill the vacancy to serve until a successor is elected by the general assembly.^[2]

Elections[edit]

Article IV, Section 1 of the state constitution specifies that the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer are to be elected every four years during the November general election. The offices are elected in mid-term election years (2018, 2022, 2026, et cetera).^[2]

Term limits[edit]

According to Article IV, Section 1 of the state Constitution, no person may hold the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, or treasurer for more than two consecutive four-year terms.^[2]

2022[edit]

See also: Rhode Island Treasurer election, 2022

General election

General election for Rhode Island General Treasurer

James Diossa defeated James Lathrop in the general election for Rhode Island General Treasurer on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Diossa (D)	54.3	190,775
	Submit photo	James Lathrop (R)	45.5	159,834
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	555

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 351,164
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island General Treasurer

James Diossa defeated Stefan Pryor in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island General Treasurer on September 13, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	James Diossa	55.6	58,335
	Stefan Pryor	44.4	46,675

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 105,010
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island General Treasurer

James Lathrop advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island General Treasurer on September 13, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	James Lathrop	100.0	18,477

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,477
= 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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2018[edit]

See also: Rhode Island Treasurer election, 2018

General election

General election for Rhode Island General Treasurer

Incumbent Seth Magaziner defeated Michael Riley in the general election for Rhode Island General Treasurer on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Seth Magaziner (D)	64.9	237,575
	Submit photo	Michael Riley (R)	35.0	127,944
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	539

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 366,058 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Rhode Island General Treasurer

Incumbent Seth Magaziner advanced from the Democratic primary for Rhode Island General Treasurer on September 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Seth Magaziner	100.0	94,494

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 94,494
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Rhode Island General Treasurer

Michael Riley advanced from the Republican primary for Rhode Island General Treasurer on September 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Michael Riley	100.0	25,694

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 25,694
= 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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Full history[edit]

2014[edit]

See also: Rhode Island down ballot state executive elections, 2014

Democrat Seth Magaziner won the election on November 4, 2014.

Rhode Island Treasurer, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Seth Magaziner	57.1%	175,902
	Independent	Ernest Almonte	42.7%	131,423
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.2%	588
Total Votes				307,913
Election results via State of Rhode Island

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Rhode Island General Treasurer, click [show] to expand the section.

2010

On November 2, 2010, Gina M. Raimondo won election to the office of Rhode Island General Treasurer. She defeated Kernan F. King (R) in the general election.

Rhode Island General Treasurer, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Gina M. Raimondo	62.1%	201,625
	Republican	Kernan F. King	37.9%	122,860
Total Votes				324,485
Election results via Rhode Island Board of Elections.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Frank T. Caprio won election to the office of Rhode Island General Treasurer. He defeated Andrew M. Lyon, III (R) in the general election.

Rhode Island General Treasurer, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Frank T. Caprio	73.4%	272,002
	Republican	Andrew M. Lyon, III	26.6%	98,818
Total Votes				370,820
Election results via Rhode Island Board of Elections.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Paul J. Tavares won re-election to the office of Rhode Island General Treasurer. He defeated Andrew M. Lyon, III (R) in the general election.

Rhode Island General Treasurer, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Paul J. Tavares Incumbent	72%	230,306
	Republican	Andrew M. Lyon, III	28%	89,457
Total Votes				319,763
Election results via Rhode Island Board of Elections.

Duties[edit]

The treasurer serves as the state's chief banker. Treasurers are responsible for receiving and disbursing all state funds, issuing general obligation notes and bonds, managing the investments of state funds, and overseeing the retirement system for state employees, teachers, and some municipal employees. The treasurer also manages the unclaimed property division, the crime victim compensation program, and the CollegeBound fund.^[4]

Divisions[edit]

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Rhode Island General Treasurer has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

State budget[edit]

See also: Rhode Island state budget and finances

The budget for the Office of the General Treasurer in Fiscal Year 2025 was $23,886,874.^[5]

Compensation[edit]

See also: Compensation of state executive officers