Val Lawson

Valarie Lawson is a Democratic state senator from Rhode Island who has represented District 14 since 2019, serves as Senate president, and is seeking re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2]

Lawson was born in East Providence in 1966 and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Rhode Island College.[1] She taught U.S. history and civics at East Providence High School, served as president of the East Providence Education Association, and was elected president of the National Education Association's Rhode Island chapter in 2023.[1]

Lawson was first elected to the State Senate in 2018 after winning a primary for an open seat, and she took office on January 1, 2019.[1] The Senate's Democratic caucus elected her Senate president on April 29, 2025, following the death of then-president Dominick Ruggerio; she had earlier been elected majority leader ahead of the 2025 session.[1] In 2026 she advanced from the Democratic primary with no opponent and faces Brian Coogan, an independent, in the November 3 general election.[1][2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.