Party Leaders on Primary Day in RI: Who Came Out Ahead
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
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L to R: Bill Lynch, Brandon Bell, Sam Bell
There were
big wins — and bigger losses — resulting from Tuesday’s statewide primary in Rhode Island.
Party leaders are naturally trying to spin the results in their favor, with all eyes now on the general election in November.
Here’s what they had to say.
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Brandon Bell, Chairman, RI GOP:
“This was not a good night for the Speaker -- but I have to take a closer look at exactly what happened. When the number two gets knocked out, number one is next in my book,” Bell told GoLocalProv.com of House Majority Leader DeSimone’s defeat, and what he sees it means for Speaker Mattiello in November.
Bell said that he believed that Democrats were tampering with the GOP primary in Cranston between Steve Frias and Shawn Lawton, trying to get unaffiliated voters to jump in the GOP primary to try and defeat Frias, so that the Speaker wouldn’t have to face him on November.
“I do think [the Speaker’s] people tried to assist Shawna Lawton -- isn't that a bad sign that she didn't win then? So I call it their raid list -- but this is not the kind of raid the House Dems are used to. I’m talking about people who had Mattiello signs, who could have jumped in to influence outcome — if they did, it was colossal failure,” said Bell.
Sam Bell, Rhode Island Progressive Democrats of America:
“This body blow to the political machine that has been running the state for too long,” said Bell, of notching several pick-ups on the progressive side on Tuesday. “Obviously, the biggest win is Marcia [Ranglin-Vassell].”
“Calkin's win is unbelievable. We unseated the most conservative person in the State Senate,” said Bell of Senator Walaska’s defeat. “She changed the State Senate fundamentally with that win.”
“Ranglin-Vassell, Walsh, Knight, we won incredible victories, when the machine was saying they were going to win a number,” continued Bell. “Politics in Rhode Island is changed forever. Who knows what's going to happen? Now we have a race for Majority Leader.”
Bill Lynch, Rhode Island Democratic Party
“I thought it went fine for leadership,” said Lynch late Tuesday night. “I’ve been through a million of these — OK, I’ve been through a lot of primaries. There’s some winners, there’s some losers — DeSimone, people knew that would be a tough race.”
“I always got a kick when Republicans get happy with one Democrat beating another Democrat. And Baby Bell and Daddy Bell working together, of course,” said Lynch, of the Progressive Democrats’ Bell - and the Republicans’ Bell.
"Again — I’ve been through several Republican chairs, I just don’t see it the same way they do,” said Lynch. “By the way, despite what the Bell brothers might tell you, the turnout was low. November is a different animal and Rhode Island is a different kind of place. [Representative] Coughlin had a progressive opponent that was supposed to win, and [Coughlin] won. The Speaker lives in a different kind of a district that others areas, and I think he’s widely respected in that district.”
"So I think it’s a stretch,” said Lynch of the GOP’s optimism of unseating Mattiello in November. “I don’t blame them...but it’s a pretty big stretch.”
Related Slideshow: 2016 Primaries—Winners and Losers
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Speaker Solid Night
Holding Serve for Mattiello
In a year with controversies swarming around Gallison and Carnevale, the Speaker held off challengers to more than ten of his supporters, but lost three races.
House Majority Leader John DeSimone, Jan Malik and Eileen Naughton all were long-time House members and all were knocked off. Overall, the night was a solid night for Mattiello.
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Progressives
Score Some Upsets
Sam Bell's efforts to restructure the legislature with a slate of Progressive candidates scored some, repeat some high profile upset wins, but overall did not add big numbers. The Progressive can score four high profile challenger wins, but lost in eight other races.
The big wins were Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, Moira Walsh, Jason Knight, and Jeannie Calkin.
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Morgan Takes a Hit
Morgan's Lawton Gets Beat Badly
Shawna Lawton was Rep. Patricia Morgan's candidate and was suppose to give Steve Frias a battle in the 15th District. But, in the end Frias beat Lawton 80% to 20% -- a proverbial beat down.
For Morgan who seeks to be the House Minority Leader succeeding Brian Newberry the Lawton performance is a significant setback.
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Williams Beats Developer
Controversial Williams Wins
In maybe the most toxic race was the battle between long-time and embattled State Rep. Anastasia Williams and controversial developer Michael Gazdacko. Williams is tied to a number of ethical issues and the demise of the John Hope Settlement House.
Rhode Island State Representative challenger Michael Gazdacko has been working with Lance Robbins for more than a decade starting in California, where Robbins garnered the reputation as one of the most infamous "slumlords" in the country.
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Serpa Wins
House Oversight Chair Wins
In House District 27, Pat Serpa, the new chair of the House Oversight Committee fought off a solid challenge and gave a solid win for the leadership.
Patricia A. Serpa 454 55.1%
Nicholas E. Delmenico 370 44.9%
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Pichardo is Out
Pichardo Beat
Juan Pichardo, the controversial state senator who came under fire for his dual as chair of the Board of Licenses is out.
Senate District 2 turned into an upset. Pichardo was heavily criticized for making political decisions as Chair of Licensing, Ana Quezada was focused going door-to-door in the district.
Ana B. Quezada 1,157 52.2%
Juan M. Pichardo 1,060 47.8%
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Warwick Senate Upset
Calkin Winner - Bernie Legacy
One of the biggest upsets of the night -- la ong-time Warwick Senator went down in Senate District 30 in the Democratic primary
Jeanine Calkin 1,090 51.8%
William A. Walaska* 1,015 48.2%
Calkin said, "For a first time candidate like me, who is motivated to keep the political revolution alive, it is so important to have the support of a Working Families Party."
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Frias Beats Lawton
Frias Winner - Sets Up Race With Speaker
Steve Frias crushed Shawna Lawton which sets up a battle between Frias and Speaker Nick Mattiello in November.
This was a win for GOP Chair Brandon Bell, who was all in on Frias, and passed on recruiting significant challengers for Congress to focus on District 15.
This could be a mega-battle in November.
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Ciccone Holds Serve
Ciccone Winner - Holds Off Progressive
Senate District 7 was a battle between the old guard and the progressives and Ciccone held off DeLos Santos in the Democratic primary.
Frank A. Ciccone, III* 1,109 54.6%
Doris Mayleni De Los Santos 922 45.4%
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DeSimone Goes Down
Ranglin Winner - Biggest Upset of the Night
House Majority Leader John DeSimone appears to have been defeated. DeSimone's opponent Marcia Ranglin is claiming victory -- an epic win for the Providence School teacher. The vote in House District 5 was a surpise.
Marcia Ranglin-Vassell 611 51.1%
John J. DeSimone 584 48.9%
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Tanzi Beats Two Back
Tanzi Fights Off Two
District 34 Representative and sometimes lightning rod Teresa Tanzi has beaten two challengers - Tanzi captured nearly 63% of the vote.
Representative in General Assembly District 34 (View votes statewide)
Teresa Tanzi* 977 51.3%
Ewa M. Dzwierzynski 469 24.6%
Rachel Clough 458 24.1%
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