National conservative talk show host Michael Graham and RI civil rights leader Ray Rickman joined GoLocal's News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE discussing the implications of Governor Gina Raimondo's win and how she and GOP nominee Allan Fung will matchup in November's general election.
The discussion touched on the implications of independent Joe Trillo on the race and whether Fung would suffer from a splintered conservative vote.
The group also considered if Fung could run as a "Charlie Baker" type Republican - pro-business and highly competent. Massachusett's Governor Baker is the most popular governor in America with a 78 percent approval rate and has been endorsed by ten Democratic mayors this year.
GoLocal hosted all-day and evening coverage of the primary day elections from across the state.
In studio in the evening, GoLocal’s team was joined by former Governor Lincoln Chafee, civil rights leader Ray Rickman, Democratic political consultant Rob Horowitz, head of RI’s Latino PAC Joseph Molina Flynn, and RIC Professor Val Endress.
Also joining the coverage was Political Science Professor Matt Guardino of Providence College, conservative talk show host Michael Graham, and RI State Representative Antonio Giarrusso.
“We had end-to-end coverage of Primary Day and insights from the widest array of experts — including insights from former Governor Lincoln Chafee and former Congressman Bob Weygand,” said GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle.
Related Slideshow: RI 2018 Primary Night Winners and Losers
Vultures had been circulating over the Governor’s head for the past couple of weeks with claims that the progressive movement in RI was picking up major steam.
Raimondo flexed her superior fundraising advantage and went negative on Matt Brown and punished him. At last count 56.2 percent to Brown’s 34.2 percent and Spencer Dickinson helping Raimondo with 9.6 percent.
At her celebration on Wednesday night, Raimondo gave a big “thank you” to Rhode Islanders for coming out to vote and she added that the people have spoken, and they want her to “Do more. Go faster. Keep going.”
Raimondo spent over $60 per vote in the primary.
She will run on the performance of the economy and look for Independent Joe Trillo to take votes away from Cranston Mayor Allan Fung.
The Governor’s race has begun. Raimondo still has a reported $2.4 million cash-on-hand.
Across the state, women candidates won nearly every competitive local or statewide race.
From town councils to the governor's office, women candidates cleaned up.
The only high profile exception was in Senate District 30 in Warwick where challenger Mark McKenney took out progressive, Bernie Sanders-supporter and sitting State Senator Jeanine Calkin. McKenney won 54-46.
And, Patricia Morgan was defeated in the GOP gubernatorial primary.
Otherwise, women retained seats or seats went from male to female. The Providence City Council increases from five women members to eight with likely November wins by Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Kat Kerwin (Ward 12), and Rachel Miller (Ward 13).
Many of the Speaker’s targeted races turned into losses.
He pulled out all the stops to take out Smith Hill State Representative Moira Walsh and had his entire senior staff working primary day out of Patrick’s Pub on Smith Street trying to defeat Walsh.
The upstart reformer would have no part of it and at the last count beat Earnheart 55 to 45 percent.
In addition, Mattiello was on the losing side of Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, Walsh and more.
His win was Dan McKiernan in Providence in District 7 who won a narrow victory over Belen Flores 53.6 to 46.6 percent.
Candidates who are strong on progressive Democratic ideals rang up win after win with few losses in the State House or in City Halls.
In Providence, progressive Sam Bell won-a-three way race and cobbled both long-time Senator Paul Jabour and Nick Autiello to capture Senate District 5.
Progressive Rebecca Kislak won House District 4.
And, in the City Council races, Helen Anthony won Ward 2 on the East Side and Rachel Miller won Ward 13 in a four-way race over Cyd McKenna, Leslie Papp, and Ray Beraducci.
Aaron Regunberg was tapped early as a candidate to watch nationally. CNN wrote in 2017 that the RI Lt. Governor’s race was one of nine Democratic primaries around the country to watch. The race did not disappoint in excitement, but in the end incumbent Dan McKee won re-election 51 to 49 percent.
Matt Brown rose from the proverbial political dead in RI and ran to the left of Gina Raimondo and pounded her on her faux pas — UHIP, and more.
But, in the end, for Brown the lack of money, Spencer Dickinson, and an in ability to convince Democrats that his vision is better for RI proved to be the downfall.
And, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse beat back progressive, peace candidate Pat Fontes.
Maybe no one had a better ad than Kobi Dennis, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Providence. Dennis raised almost no campaign funds, but did offer up best ad — which featured him being tutored by a 9-year-old about the budget of the City of Providence.