The Narrative is that it was a big night for Democrats in Rhode Island. But not so much in the state legislature.
In House of Representatives especially. The chamber controlled by conservative Democrat Nick Mattiello saw the GOP membership almost double – from six to 11 while Democrats dropped a total of six seats.
Linda Finn of Portsmouth lost to Republican Dan Reilly and Larry Valencia of Richmond lost to Republican Justin Price. Scott Guthrie and Lisa Tomasso, both of Coventry, lost to Republicans Robert Nardollilo and Sherry Roberts. And Donna Walsh of Charlestown lost to Blake Filippi, an independent from Block Island.
The good news is Aaron Regunberg, of the East Side of Providence and Shelby Maldonado of Central Falls won. That Peter Palumbo lost to Republican Robert Lancia can be seen as a wash to progressives if not Democrats.
Things weren’t quite as bad in the Senate, but Democrat Cathy Cool Rumsey lost to Republican Elaine Morgan.
Here’s a list of some of the legislative seats I was watching:
Portsmouth/Middletown (House District 72)
Linda Finn 45.9%
Dan Reilly 53.9%
Narragansett / Wakefield (House 34)
Teresa Tanzi 53.5%
Steve Tetzner 46.3%
Providence, East Side (House 4)
Aaron Regunberg 82.5%
Ethan Gyles 16.8%
Coventry (Senate 21)
Margaux Morrisseau 35.8%
Nick Kettle 54.7%
Coventry (House District 26)
Nick Denice 43.7%
Patricia Morgan 49.4%
West Warwick (Senate District 9)
Adam Satchell 55.7%
Michael Pinga 44%
North Kingstown (House District 31)
Julie Casimiro 46.8%
Doreen Costa 53.1%
North Kingstown (House District 32)
Sharon Gamba 47.8%
Bob Craven 51.8%
Richmond (House District 39)
Larry Valencia 42.5%
Justin Price 57.4%
Central Falls (House District 56)
Shelby Maldonado 83.4%
Albert Romanowicz 16.5%
Central Falls (House District 56)
Elizabeth Crowley 84.7%
Dan Bidondi 14.8%
Cranston (House District 18)
Art Handy 65.9%
Don Gendron 33.8%
Newport (Senate District 13)
Teresa Paiva Weed 54.6%
Mike Smith 45.1%
