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PROVIDENCE, RI (AP) – The Democratic governor of Rhode Island on Wednesday won the nomination of his party for a second term, overcoming a spirited but poorly funded challenge, while the mayor of the country's second-largest city seat governor November.
Governor Gina Raimondo has rebuffed a left-wing challenge from former Secretary of State Matt Brown. Cranston Mayor Allan Fung beat Patricia Morgan, a state legislator. Fung scored 4.5 points behind Raimondo in a three-way race in 2014.
Voters from Rhode Island have also selected candidates for the US Senate, US House, Lieutenant Governor and other offices at a rare vote on Wednesday. About 145,000 people voted, nearly 20% of voters, according to the Elections Council. The participation rate in the mid-term primaries has hovered around 20%.
Raimondo advocated for a second term, highlighting improvements in the state's economic situation, including a drop in the unemployment rate, as well as new vocational training programs and free tuition fees at community colleges. Mr Brown, who served more than ten years ago, has imposed himself as the basic alternative and has launched Raimondo for his close ties with companies.
Raimondo raised $ 7.7 million, 20 times Brown's total. She targeted Fung in his victory speech, saying he would not oppose President Donald Trump and oppose his administration's job creation policies. His followers chanted "four more years".
Malcolm Griggs went to the Warwick polls to vote in the Democratic primary for Raimondo, who he says has helped the state's economy, attracting businesses, and is already expanding businesses in Rhode Island.
"She put people to work and it's important," said Griggs, 58, who works in the banking sector.
On the Republican side, Fung tried to keep a low profile in the primary, presenting few detailed policy proposals, avoiding questions about his positions on different topics and accepting a single debate on a small radio station with a scope limited. Raimondo did not participate in the debates either.
Fung defeated Morgan, who heads the tiny minority caucus of the House at the Democratic General Assembly. He said his victory is a sign that the Rhode Islanders are ready to take back the state of insiders and "big shots" and to reject the status quo. He said he was ready to "lead this revolution."
Wednesday's winners are expected to face a new three-way race on November 6, with former Republican MP Joe Trillo, who chaired Trump's 2016 campaign in Rhode Island, as an independent candidate.
In Congressional races, Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative David Cicilline easily won their primaries. Rep. Jim Langevin was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
The 62-year-old White House is a leading voice in the Senate pushing for more to fight climate change. He also criticized Trump on a number of issues, including lobbying to protect the investigation of Robert Mueller's special adviser in Russia.
The most watched race was that of the lieutenant governor. Outgoing Democrat Dan McKee narrowly defeated self-proclaimed Progressive MP Aaron Regunberg. The position has few formal functions, but officials have used it to advance some state-wide causes. McKee wants to expand the powers of the position.
McKee has campaigned on his experience as a tenure holder and former mayor of six mandates. The 67-year-old politician painted Regunberg as too inexperienced. Regunberg, 28, wanted to use the office to advocate for statehouse reform.
Former US prosecutor Peter Neronha opposed the Democratic nomination for the Rhode Island Attorney General, virtually guaranteeing him the job. Republicans did not run a candidate and Neronha faces no significant opposition in November.
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