Governor holds off weak challenger, will face mayor
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island’s Democratic governor won her party’s nomination for a second term in Wednesday’s primary, overcoming a spirited but poorly funded challenge, while the mayor of the state’s second-largest city earned the GOP nomination for another shot at the governor’s seat in November.
Gov. Gina Raimondo fended off a challenge from the left by former Secretary of State Matt Brown. Mayor Allan Fung beat Patricia Morgan, a state lawmaker. Fung came in
4.5 points behind Raimondo in a three-way race in 2014.
Voters in Rhode Island also selected nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, lieutenant governor and other offices in a rare Wednesday vote. About 145,000 people cast ballots, or nearly 20 percent of voters, according to the state Board of Elections. The turnout in recent midterm primaries has hovered around 20 percent.
Wednesday’s winners are expected to face another three-way race Nov. 6, with former Republican lawmaker Joe Trillo, who chaired Trump’s 2016 campaign in Rhode Island, running as an independent.
In congressional races, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. David Cicilline easily won their primaries. Whitehouse will face Republican Robert Flanders in November, while Cicilline will face Republican Patrick Donovan.
Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin will be challenged by Republican Salvatore Caiozzo in Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District. Both candidates were unopposed in Wednesday’s primary election.
The most closely watched down-ticket race was for lieutenant governor. Incumbent Democrat Dan Mckee narrowly beat self-described progressive state lawmaker Aaron Regunberg. The position has few official duties, but officeholders have used it as a way to advance certain causes on a statewide level. Mckee wants to expand the position’s powers.
Former U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for Rhode Island attorney general, virtually guaranteeing him the job. Republicans didn’t put forward a candidate and Neronha faces no significant opposition in November.