Election 2018: Raimondo, Whitehouse Win Re-election

NBC has called the governor's race for Gina Raimondo. Raimondo, the incumbent Democrat, faced a challenge from Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, whom she defeated in 2014 by 4.5 percentage points in a six-way race. The state's first female governor, Raimondo survived a strong primary challenge from the left and was favored to win a second term.

In other key races, CNN has called the U.S. Senate race for Sheldon Whitehouse, the incumbent Democrat. Whitehouse was seeking his third term and was challenged by Robert Flanders.

Channel 10 has called the Congressional races for the two Democratic incumbents, David Cicilline and James Langevin. WJAR-TV is also projecting victories for Nellie Gorbea, the incumbent Secretary of State, and Seth Magaziner, the incumbent general treasurer. Peter Neronha will be the new state Attorney General.

Raimondo had raised almost $8 million to defeat Matt Brown in the Primary and then win a six-way race in the general election. Joining Fung in the race against the incumbent are the Compassion Party's Anne Armstrong, the Moderate Party's Bill Gilbert and independents Joe Trillo and Luis-Daniel Munoz.

Raimondo had peppered voters with a list of her accomplishments since taking office. Among her claims: that she's added jobs, improved the economy, rebuilt bridges, started a free college tuition program, made all-day kindergarten statewide and boosted early childhood education. She also spent $1.1 million on the race in October, which was more than any of her opponents, according to campaign finance reports.

Fung criticized the governor for her role in a health and human services fiasco, due to a botched computer rollout. The problems cost taxpayers about $600,000, he claims, not to mention the harm done to needy people left without resources. He's also faulted her for problems at the Training School and at the Department of Children Youth and Families.

Overall, he has insisted that Rhode Island has been going in the wrong direction. According to Fung, Raimondo has increased taxes and fees during the four years she's been in office. He's also objected to the incentives she's offered companies to move into the state, as well as her "sanctuary state" policy, which, he says, has prevented local and state police from cooperating with the Department of Justice in deporting undocumented people who commit crimes.

Trillo picked up endorsements from Republicans such as former House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan, who opposed Fung in the GOP primary. He also won the nod from former Attorney General Arlene Violet.

But Trillo been dogged by past controversies about his temper. He was accused years ago of assaulting a neighbor, future House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, who was a teenager at the time.
Trillo was acquitted. He later alluded to the controversy in his campaign ads, assuring voters he's a fighter and will fight for them. He was President Trump's advocate in Rhode Island during the 2016 presidential election and has vowed to end Rhode Island's sanctuary state policies.

Polls for most of the state closed at 8 p.m. but will stay open in Portsmouth until 9 p.m. after one of the polling places had to be evacuated. The reason was an electrical problem. More than 300,000 voters had cast ballots by 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to the state Board of Elections.

Other than the evacuation, few problems were reported. A voting machine on Prudence Island (Portsmouth) broke down, and a replacement had to be brought by ferry. Some polls opened late, and there were a few ballot jams.

Earlier, the candidates and their supporters were out at the polls and happy to explain why they were voting. Justin McLaughlin, candidate for an at-large council seat in Newport, was at Fenner Hall holding a sign. McLaughlin told Patch there isn't anybody he doesn't like, practically, and he's committed to listening to the residents. Helping him was Cameron Clark, of Portsmouth. Clark is former U.S. Cong. and current Bryant president Ron Machtley's son-in-law. He is also supporting Gov. Gina Raimondo.

"She works," he said. She gets out and meets people and listen to them, he said.

During an hour-long debate last week at Rhode Island College, four of the six candidates sparred over issues ranging from jobs and taxes to the general tone and tenor of the campaign.

All seats in the state's General Assembly are up for grabs in 2018. Democrats now hold a 31-5 advantage over the GOP in the 38-member state Senate, with one independent and one vacancy, and hold 62 of 75 seats in the state House, with 12 Republicans and one independent.

Ocean State voters are also being asked to rule on three bond issues.

The first is a $250 million measure for school construction and renovation across the state.

The second would provide $70 million for construction at URI, including a new Ocean Technology Center, and at Rhode Island College's Horace Mann Hall.

The third would raise $47 million for environmental purposes across the state.

Also, 18 communities are deciding local ballot questions.

Cover Image via AP AND Shutterstock; Staff Photo Justin McLaughlin, left, and Cameron Clark: Margo Sullivan; Courtesy Photos Lori Bates