SteveAhlquist.news: The Womxn Project rates primary candidates on issues of Bodily Freedom

“At a time when bodily freedom is being contested at every level of government, we are glad to be able to provide a guide for voters,” said Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director of TWP.

SteveAhlquist.news: September 2, 2026 by Steve Ahlquist

Just in time for the September primary elections in Rhode Island, The Womxn Project (TWP) has released its 2026 Bodily Freedom Forever¹ Index (BFFI), Primary Edition. This document includes information about candidates running at the local, state, and national levels, from school committees to congressional seats.

“At a time when bodily freedom is being contested at every level of government, we are glad to be able to provide a guide for voters. We hope this increased transparency helps folx to find candidates whose positions align with their values. We look forward to revising the BFFI after the primaries for the general election,” said Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director of TWP.

Since July, staff and volunteers at The Womxn Project have come together to research each candidate for school committee, town/city council, and state senate and representative, vetting and reporting their stance on bodily freedom.

The BFFI serves as a transparency tool, as many voters do not know where candidates stand on these critical issues because they are rarely addressed directly at the town level. Candidate BFFI ratings are based on their positions on two issues: Reproductive and LGBTQ+ Rights.

Debates about LGBTQ+ Rights continue to take place at school committee meetings across the state, and Reproductive Rights remain a contentious issue at the state level. The Bodily Freedom Forever Index will allow voters to make decisions based on how candidates align with their own values. This Index will be updated with primary results for the 2026 general election. The BFFI was started in 2024 and is produced annually, as elections are scheduled.

The Womxn Project team and over 75 statewide volunteers compiled the data by:

• sending a two-question survey directly to all candidates;
• diving deep into public online resources (including candidates’ social media and prior public statements);
• researching candidates’ voting record on the two components of the BFFI (reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights); and,
• reaching out to each candidate with the results of our research and providing them an opportunity to change their stance.

Here are the results analyzing statewide and federal races (for information on local races, see here):

About The Womxn Project:

The Womxn Project is a 501(c)4 organization. Through civic engagement, policy advancement, and artivism, The Womxn Project takes action to secure reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and government transparency in Rhode Island.

Original Article