James C. Sheehan is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate representing District 36 since January 2003. Sheehan served consecutively from January 2001 until January 2003 in the District 23 seat. On November 6, 2018, Sheehan won election to a tenth consecutive term in the Rhode Island Senate, defeating Republican challenger John P. Silvaggio by a margin of 66.9 percent to 32.7 percent.
2012 Sheehan was unopposed for the September 11, 2012 Democratic Primary, winning with 959 votes, and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 8,595 votes against Republican nominee Mariacristina McKendall.
2000 To challenge District 23 incumbent Republican Senator John Patterson, Sheehan was unopposed for the September 12, 2000 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,103 votes, and won the November 7, 2000 General election with 5,431 votes against Senator Patterson.
2002 Redistricted to District 36, and with incumbent Democratic Senator John Celona redistricted to District 7, Sheehan won the September 10, 2002 Democratic Primary with 2,485 votes against fellow Senator Patrick McDonald ; Sheehan won the November 5, 2002 General election with 6,002 votes against Republican nominee Timothy Haxton.
2004 Sheehan was unopposed for the September 14, 2004 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,056 votes, and won the November 2, 2004 General election with 8,572 votes against Republican nominee Robin Porter.
2006 Sheehan was unopposed for the September 12, 2006 Democratic Primary, winning with 1,497 votes, and won the November 7, 2006 General election with 8,480 votes against Republican nominee William Connelly, who had run in the Republican Primary in 2004.
2008 Sheehan was again challenged in the September 9, 2008 Democratic Primary, and won with 1,997 votes ; returning 2006 Republican challenger William Connelly was unopposed in his primary, setting up a rematch; Sheehan won the November 4, 2008 General election with 8,632 votes against Connelly.
2010 Sheehan was unopposed for the September 23, 2010 Democratic Primary, winning with 2,114 votes; returning Republican challenger William Connelly won his primary, setting up their third contest; Sheehan won the November 2, 2010 General election with 6,462 votes against Connelly.
