By Ethan Shorey
Democrat Helena Buonanno Foulkes trounced incumbent Gov. Dan McKee across the state and beat him in every community Wednesday, taking home 79,770 votes, or 62.44 percent, to McKee’s 47,983 votes, or 37.56 percent. Those numbers were similar to several polls.
McKee lost his hometown of Cumberland by some 300 votes. Democratic committees across the state endorsed his opponent, including Cumberland’s.
Lieutenant Gov. Sabina Matos escaped the anti-incumbency trend that also saw Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien defeated by Adam Greenman and Providence Mayor Brett Smiley defeated by David Morales.
Republican Aaron Guckian eked out a narrow victory in the Republican primary for governor, taking 11,623 votes, or 50.61 percent, to 11,344 votes for Elaine Pelino, or 49.39 percent.
Incumbent Matos took 47.44 percent of the vote, or 45,815 total against four other candidates, with Xaykham Rexford Khamsyvoravong coming in second with 32,252 votes, or 26.35 percent.
For attorney general, Kimberly Ahern won the Democratic primary, securing 36.30 percent of the total, or 45,140 votes in unofficial tallies, to 41,127 votes, or 33.08 percent, for second-place finisher Keith Hoffmann. Two other candidates, Joseph Solomon Jr. and Jason Knight, got 31 percent combined.
