The League of RI Businesses made a play to sidestep campaign finance limits. Now, it’s game time.

Vanessa Lopez knew the odds were stacked against her.

A first-time candidate going up against a three-term incumbent, Lopez realized she needed outside help to succeed in her Democratic primary challenge against Sen. Meghan Kallman for the District 15 seat representing Pawtucket and Providence. 

“I have no one in my corner, so I was like, ‘how the heck am I going to do this,’” Lopez, 37, said in an interview. 

Enter The League of RI Businesses. The political group born out of a gun rights campaign was recruiting state legislative candidates to fill open seats and challenge incumbents whose records did not align with its “pro-business” platform. And, under an unprecedented maneuver to create 40 political action committees — one for each city and town plus a statewide organization — The League advertised up to $1 million in donations per year per endorsed candidate, circumventing state campaign finance laws that cap annual donations at $2,000 per candidate. 

No one has received a seven-figure donation from The League yet. But the execution of its multi-PAC strategy is coming into play for a handful of its chosen candidates, including Lopez.

A $10,000 cash infusion, divided into five, equal $2,000 donations from League PACs, was transferred to Lopez’ campaign account on March 18, according to campaign reports submitted to the Rhode Island Board of Elections. Lopez is also fundraising on her own — reporting $1,800 in donations in the second quarter — but the bulk of her $10,218 campaign balance as of June 30 comes from The League.

“This actually gives me a chance to play the game,” said Lopez, a self-employed videographer and graphic designer. “If I didn’t have the resources, even if I had the good ideas, I wouldn’t be able to compete.”

The loophole has already been employed by seasoned political strategists to a much lesser, and less vocal degree. Amica, Bally’s Corp., and the state teachers’ union all have two PACs apiece, according to state campaign finance data. The Providence firefighters union has four PACS. The union representing local and state government and public school workers has five PACS. 

“It’s a legitimate tool,” said David Levesque, cofounder of The League and the organizer of all 40 PACs. “If people don’t like the law, change the law.”

Which is what good government groups tried to do during the 2026 legislative session. The pair of bills backed by Common Cause Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Board of Elections sought to apply the existing, $2,000 donation limits to multiple political action committees when controlled by the same person or group — replicating the rules in place for federal elections. The bills failed to advance out of committee in both chambers. 

Incognito mode 

The League lined up a 23-candidate roster and built its cash reserves, openly encouraging donations of up to $9,900. A $9,900 contribution split between 40 PACs, with a 20% cut for the 501(c)4, comes out to $198 per PAC — just below the $200 limit that lets donors remain anonymous in campaign finance reports, under state law.

“As soon as you say who you’re going to vote for, there’s somebody that doesn’t like that person, and then all of a sudden, you lost the contract, or your neighbor is mad,” said Levesque, a Narragansett resident who owns Brewed Awakenings coffee houses.   

The statewide PAC — one of the 40 — has raised nearly $60,000 since fundraising began in May 2025. Roughly 10% comes from under $200, anonymous donations.

Over the same time period, the organization has spent nearly $100,000. Half of that, $50,000, was funneled to five League-endorsed candidates who are running Democratic legislative primaries: Lopez; Mark Mesrobian, the Democratic challenger in Senate District 36; James Metivier, the Democratic challenger in Senate District 19; Leah Boisclair, the Democratic challenger in House District 36; and Kevin Hoyle, one of two Democrats in the primary for the open House District 32 seat. All but Hoyle are running against incumbent Democratic legislators.

“We’re looking at races we think are winnable,” Levesque explained. “If we can win these five races, that would really change the course of the state of Rhode Island.”

Kallman, the incumbent facing Lopez in Senate District 15, is a progressive Democrat whose work on restrictions on federal immigration authorities rankled Levesque.

“She spends more time out of the district than in the district, going to Minnesota to talk about ICE,” Levesque said. 

Kallman, along with two other Democratic lawmakers, spent two days in Minneapolis in January, invited to participate in a nonprofit conference meant to draw upon the lessons learned from interactions between federal immigration authorities and people in Minnesota. Three people were shot by ICE agents in and around Minneapolis in January 2025, two of whom died.

Kallman dismissed Levesque’s criticisms about her travels as “nonsense,” while defending her record on supporting protections for Rhode Islanders in interactions with immigration authorities.

“My focus on ICE is absolutely an indicator of what’s important in people’s lives right now,” Kallman, 42, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston, said. “Rhode Island has a really important job in protecting our neighbors. I am very proud I am a member of the General Assembly that continues to do that.”

Lopez, who is of Cape Verdean and Puerto Rican descent, did not comment on Kallman’s stance on immigration. A self-described “common-sense candidate,” her website names housing, healthcare and education as top priorities — all topics Kallman has also addressed during her time on Smith Hill. But their proposed solutions differ: Lopez denounces rent stabilization for its effect on landlords, while Kallman has championed stronger protections for renters. Lopez denounced the millionaire’s tax included in the fiscal 2027 budget which she believes will drive out employers and jobs, while Kallman advocates for an even more wide sweeping set of taxes on top earners. Lopez also opposed the assault-style weapons ban approved by lawmakers, including Kallman, in 2025, framing her stance as a matter of self-defense.

Democrats, divided 

Ideological differences characterize other League-backed candidates and their Democratic primary opponents.

Mesrobian, a Narragansett entrepreneur who is challenging Sen. Alana DiMario in the primary for the Senate seat spanning North Kingstown and Narragansett, espouses a business-centric platform focused on cutting taxes and red tape. Mesrobian received $10,500 from The League through six of its PACs in November and December.

Cumberland Town Councilor James Metivier, challenging Pearson in the Democratic primary for the Senate District 19 seat spanning parts of Cumberland and Lincoln, stresses the need to curtail state spending. Metivier received $10,000 from five of  The League’s PACs on March 30. 

Metivier and Mesrobian each declined to comment on criticism about The League’s campaign finance strategy because they did not know enough about it.

Metivier, 60, a retired IT manager for Amica Mutual Insurance Co., noted he has not spent any of The League’s donations, though he is likely to on campaign mailers. He raised $1,400 in donations from individuals in the second quarter of the year, and has $27,800 cash on hand.

Mesrobian, 58, general manager of members-only Bonnet Shore Beach Club, received $36,000 in donations during the the three-month period that ended June 30, He has over $107,000 cash on hand — more than double the $44,000 balance of DiMario, who raised $14,000 in the second quarter.

“Their contribution is not really that significant to me,” Mesrobian said of The League’s donations. 

It is for Kevin Hoyle. The first-time candidate for the open House District 32 seat representing North Kingstown raised $125 in the second quarter. But he has $66,000 in his account, thanks to a $10,000 series of PAC donations from The League in March, and a $50,000 personal loan. 

“You can’t bitch about $10,000,” said Hoyle. “The nice thing is, there’s no strings attached. It’s not like I am being told I have to vote this way or that to take the money.”

A retired entrepreneur who went back to school for a master’s degree in law studies after selling his software development company because he was “bored,” Hoyle, 67, is running against Robert Craven Jr. for the seat formerly held by Craven Jr.’s father. 

Neither has held elected office, but Hoyle framed himself as the underdog, challenging an incumbent name with political ties. Craven Jr., 32, who works as policy director for the Rhode Island General Treasurer’s office, sees Hoyle’s financial boost from The League as a philosophical problem rather than a practical one. He’s confident he can win on his own record and merits.

But, “As someone vying for the public trust in running for office, I think candidates should value transparency,” Craven Jr. said. “We have campaign finance laws to make sure we know where money is going in politics.”

Kallman, Pearson, DiMario expressed similar concerns with The League’s strategy.

“If their donors are embarrassed enough about what they’re up to, maybe they should reconsider,” Kallman said.

Unintended consequences 

Kallman and DiMario were among the 14 senators who voted against a 2023 bill that became law without the governor’s signature raising campaign contribution limits from $1,000 to $2,000 per year, while upping the threshold for donations to remain anonymous from $100 to $200.

“I think it should be the strength of candidates’ ideas rather than how much money they can put in to getting their name out there,” DiMario said.

Pearson, then-Senate Majority Leader, voted for the bill, but said it was never intended to be used the way The League has done.

“We need to close that loophole,” Pearson, 38, a Citizens Bank executive, said.

A dozen sitting state legislators, mostly Democrats, have received donations from The League’s PACs within the last year, though none were more than $2,000 per candidate per calendar year. 

Rep. Marie Hopkins, a first-term Warwick Republican, received the most: $2,000 in December plus $1,000 and a $800 in-kind donation in March. Deputy House Majority Leader Thomas Noret, a Coventry Democrat, received $400 while Senate Minority Whip David Tikoian received $250. Tikoian, a North Smithfield Democrat, also donated $1,250 to The League’s PACs and $250 to Mesrobian in 2025, according to his campaign finance reports.

John Marion, executive director for Common Cause Rhode Island, hopes The League’s unabashed application of state campaign finance rules will spur state lawmakers to restrict campaign donations by related PACs in the 2027 session. DiMario has already committed to reintroduce the bill next year.

Second-quarter campaign reports from The League PACs include the following description below each anonymous donation: “Tandem donations from individuals in RI that don’t want the Crazies to target them. :)”

“It certainly helps our case that they’re rubbing the public’s nose in it,” Marion said. “It’s immature and unprofessional and not smart politically.”

Thornton also clocked the comments on The League’s campaign reports but said there wasn’t anything he could do.

“As long as they’re complying with disclosure requirements and the limitations on contributions, we don’t have jurisdiction,” Thornton said.

But, he continued, “I do think this is an area of the law that needs to be tightened.” 

Early voting begins on Aug. 20 ahead of the Sept. 9 primary.