Measuring up the governor’s race
What Valley voters said at the polls
Democratic Gov. Gina M. Raimondo convincingly won her second term in office on Tuesday night, besting Republican challenger Allan W. Fung by a 15-point margin. Her 57,188-vote margin of victory far surpassed her 14,471vote win over Fung in 2014, but how did the Blackstone Valley vote on Tuesday?
Those tallies are as follows.
BURRILLVILLE Burrillville was one of the few Rhode Island municipalities that sided with Fung over Raimondo, as the Cranston mayor recorded 3,329 votes, or 55.8 percent, to Raimondo’s 1,859 votes, or 31.2 percent. Many have surmised that Raimondo struggled in Burrillville because of the voters’ frustration with her response to the proposed billion-dollar gas- and diesel-powered cogeneration plant in Pascoag.
CENTRAL FALLS
In the smallest state’s smallest city, Raimondo garnered big support. Her 1,771 votes, or 75.4 percent, far exceeded Fung’s 338 votes, or 14.4 percent.
CUMBERLAND Cumberland voters endorsed Raimondo, giving the Democratic incumbent 6,989 votes, or 50.3 percent, to her Republican rival’s 5,312 votes, or 38.2 percent.
EAST PROVIDENCE Raimondo handily won East Providence, with 9,878 votes, or 58.5 percent, to Fung’s 5,042 votes, or 29.8 percent.
LINCOLN
The incumbent governor held onto a tight victory in Lincoln, besting Fung by fewer than 200 votes – 4,162, or 45.6 percent, to 3,979 votes, or 43.6 percent.
NORTH SMITHFIELD
This was yet another Blackstone Valley community to favor Fung, with vot-
ers here providing Fung with a 220-vote victory over the incumbent governor – 2,317 votes, or 46.7 percent, to 2,097 votes, or 42.2 percent.
PAWTUCKET
Voters in Pawtucket, despite some showing frustration with the departure of the Pawtucket Red Sox – which they laid at the feet of the governor – overwhelmingly endorsed Raimondo.
She topped Fung with 11,019 votes, or 65 percent, to the Republican challenger’s 3,922, votes or 23.1 percent.
WOONSOCKET Raimondo carried yet another urban community, winning Woonsocket with 4,753 votes, or 50.6 percent to Fung’s 3,680 votes, or 39.2 percent.