Two races really mattered in Johnston on Primary Night. In the end, however, endorsements didn’t matter much in either contest.
A pair of Democratic primaries — the race for a District 42 House seat and the fight for a District 25 Senate seat — soaked up most of the oxygen.
By 10:16 p.m., 11 Johnston precincts had reported results to the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
Ultimately, one incumbent house lawmaker was out and an unendorsed fresh face in town politics was heading on to the General Election.
No concession in close D-42 House race
According to unofficial election results, incumbent District 42 (Johnston, Cranston) state Rep. Edward T. Cardillo Jr. (with 501 votes) narrowly lost the primary contest to Kelsey K. Coletta (who had 532 votes, as of Wednesday morning, Sept. 11). The incumbent’s nephew Dennis D. Cardillo Jr. came in a distant third, with 219 votes.
The race was a clone of the primary contest from two years earlier (Rep. Ed Cardillo narrowly won that contest). This year, Rep. Ed Cardillo, the endorsed candidate and incumbent, narrowly won in Johnston (which covers most of the district), but Coletta handily won in Cranston (a narrow portion of District 42). After combining the votes from Cranston and Johnston, Coletta was on top with by just 31 votes.
Cardillo could request a recount.
“I don’t know if I’m going to,” Cardillo said Wednesday morning. “We could have a recount, but …”
At 69 years old, Cardillo said he may just take a break for a while.
“I have a little grandson, just 14 months old,” he said. “And another on the way. I have a daughter getting married in June. The people have spoken and they decided, I believe. I really haven’t decided.”
Despite the loss, Cardillo expressed some relief.
“I can go back to being me,” he said. “I’m humbled to have served as a state rep in my community. And I felt I did a lot of good. Ultimately, the people decide. And they decided.”
Cardillo, a moderate Democrat, did not reach out to Coletta, the likely victor, on Primary Night. He said Coletta represents the “Soros-backed far left wing” of the Democratic party.
“Our sense is that our percentage lead will persist, and though I have not heard from Ed, we have been comfortable declaring victory,” Coletta said Wednesday morning, after celebrating with supporters at Lemongrass restaurant in Warwick on Primary Night.
“Thank you to everyone who voted and supported our campaign,” Coletta said to her supporters. “I'm honored to be the Democratic nominee for State Representative in District 42. Voters made it clear that our community is ready for real action: improving healthcare, supporting our schools, taking on flooding, and protecting our seniors. I look forward to continuing the outreach and meeting with neighbors across the district, hearing their concerns and ideas about our corner of Johnston and Cranston.”
Coletta will likely go on to face Republican Richard R. Fascia in the General Election on Nov. 5.
D-25 Senate contest has a clear winner
Andrew R. Dimitri won the Democratic Primary for Johnston’s District 25 state Senate seat. Unofficial results show Dimitri with 1,569 votes (or 58.2%), over opponents Richard J. DelFino III (with 768 votes, 28.5%) and Pamela Leary (357 votes, 13.3%).
“I am absolutely honored and humbled to have received the support of the citizens of the Town of Johnston to become the Democratic Senatorial candidate in District 25,” Dimitri said Wednesday morning. “I look forward to earning the confidence and support of our great Town as we head into the general election this November, and I look forward to serving the citizens of Johnston in the Rhode Island State Senate.”
The seat was vacated when Sen. Frank Lombardo III, of Johnston, died in February.
“I would like to thank the great team of supporters who worked tirelessly on my behalf,” Richard J. DelFino III said Wednesday morning. “I’m proud of the campaign we ran because we did so with honesty and integrity. While the results were not what we had hoped for, my commitment and dedication to our Johnston community will continue for many years to come.”
Leary praised her opponents, especially the winner.
“Although we did not get the outcome that we were looking for, I am proud of the race we ran,” the third-place finisher said Wednesday morning. “We focused on the issues and the values that are core to the Democratic Party — fighting for working people, supporting our seniors, protecting women's rights, and saving our environment. I have no regrets and I'm very proud of the way we ran our campaign. I am very happy for Andrew Dimitri's success in the primary election, as I know he will make an amazing State Senator for our town. I wish him only the best and have let him know he has my full support in the general election, and when he eventually becomes our next State Senator at the State House.”
Dimitri will now face Republican Karin N. Gorman in the General Election on Nov. 5.
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