Rhode Island primary sets up rematch between Gov. Gina Raimondo and Republican Allen Fung

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo
(Image credit: Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fortune/Time)

In a rare Wednesday primary, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) won her nomination for a second term, fending off a challenge from former Secretary of State Matt Brown. Brown was one of several more progressive candidates trying to unseat more centrist Democrats, with mixed results. Raimondo bested him, 57 percent to 34 percent. She will face Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, who won the Republican primary against state House Minority Leader Patricia Morgan. It will be a rematch.

Fung lost to Raimondo in the 2014 race by 4.5 percentage points. That election, like this one, was a three-way contest; this year, former GOP lawmaker Joe Trillo is expected to run as an independent. Some polls show a competitive race, but Raimondo is the early favorite in the heavily Democratic state. "While Democrats dominate the state and hold supermajorities in its legislature," The Washington Post notes, "socially conservative Democrats hold the balance of power." Progressive challengers unseated a few state lawmakers on Wednesday and failed to unseat others.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.