CUMBERLAND – Brandon Voas easily defeated opponent Jim McLaughlin in Wednesday’s Democratic primary for House District 57, Cumberland and Central Falls.
The race for Senate District 19 was significantly closer, but incumbent Sen. Ryan Pearson turned back a challenge from challenger Jim Metivier.
According to unofficial results, Voas won by more than 300 votes, taking 831 and 62 percent of the total, to McLaughlin’s 512 votes, or 38.12 percent.
Pearson won by about 140 votes, with 1,984 total and 51.83 percent to Metivier’s 1,844 votes or 48.17 percent.
Both incumbent winners had stuck to a message of being true Democrats compared to their opponents, men they criticized for their endorsement by the Rhode Island League of Businesses and their conservative stances on issues.
They celebrated with supporters at Angelo’s in Cumberland.
Here’s our pre-election story on the House 57 race, and here’s the story on Senate 19.
Note: More will be added to this story.
