Edward J. O'Neill (Rhode Island politician)

In 2016 O'Neill, who had long identified as an Independent, re-registered as a Republican in an effort to serve as a delegate at the 2016 Republican National Convention.

in 2016 O'Neill was vocally critical of the Democratic domination of Rhode Island politics, expressing his belief that the current system would reach the same outcomes regardless of Republican opposition. O'Neill cited this frustration as rationale for his increased affiliation with the Republican Party.

While in office, O'Neill voted against two bills that would have expanded the state's policies towards same-sex civil unions and same-sex marriage. In 2013, O'Neill called on his fellow senators to vote against S38, which legalized same-sex marriage in the state, urging them to "vote their conscience[s]” and follow their own “moral compass[es].”

On November 6, 2012 O'Neill beat Democratic opponent John Cullen and Independent Derek Meiklejohn. The results were O'Neill 57.3%, Cullen 36.1%, and Meiklejohn 6.4%.

On November 2, 2010 O'Neill beat Democratic opponent Linda Butera-Noble by a 54.5% to 45.5% margin.

Edward J. O'Neill is a politician from Rhode Island who represented the 17th District (Lincoln, North Providence, and Pawtucket) in the Rhode Island Senate from 2009 to 2017.

O'Neill won an unlikely victory by beating Democratic Senate President Joe Montalbano by a 54.3% to 45.7% margin on November 4, 2008. O'Neill ran an aggressive campaign emphasized on ending political corruption and decreasing taxes and spending.

O'Neill is the son of Edward Joseph O'Neill Jr. (August 5, 1915 – January 19, 2007) and Margaret M. (Mulcahey) O'Neill (August 20, 1913 – October 6, 1966). The couple had three sons and three daughters.