Liana Cassar moved one step closer to earning a seat in the Rhode Island House of Representatives on Wednesday night, Sept. 12.

Ms. Cassar won the Democratic primary for the District 66 race, defeating fellow Barrington resident John Chung 1,410 to 818. She celebrated the victory with a group of her supporters at the Barrington Democratic Club, first thanking them for their help, and then adding: "Community is everything. Democracy doesn't happen without community."

Ms. Cassar received the majority of votes in four out of the five voting precincts. Her largest margin came at the Barrington Middle School polls, where she received 460 votes to Mr. Chung's 171. Her opponent captured a 155 to 109 edge at Waddington School in Riverside.

Ms. Cassar and her supporters were busy at polling locations across Riverside and Barrington on Wednesday. They held signs and waved at passing cars, and set up inside the various schools to track voters. The poll checkers sat at tables and marked the names of residents as they showed up to vote. 

Just before 2 p.m., Ms. Cassar arrived at Nayatt School. She stood under an umbrella waved to residents as they arrived ready to vote. 

Late Wednesday night, Ms. Cassar and her family arrived at the Barrington Democratic Club. The vote tallies were already complete, and people inside the building were ready to celebrate with their candidate. 

As Ms. Cassar entered the room, a loud cheer erupted. The first-time candidate thanked the crowd for their help and told them she looked forward to working with them and for them in the months to come. 

In an interview a short time later, Ms. Cassar said she planned to enjoy the Primary victory for a bit, and then continue to talk to residents about bringing a change to the Rhode Island Statehouse.

"…people want to be a part of making a change in their community," she said. "Together we're going to do that… I can't do this alone."

Ms. Cassar said changing the culture at the Statehouse will lead to other positive changes across Barrington and the rest of the state.

"What I'm hearing and what I'm saying is that … business as usual isn't working," Ms. Cassar said. 

Ms. Cassar will face Republican candidate Rhonda Holmes in the general election in November.

District 66 vote totals

• Barrington High School: Cassar 290, Chung 109

• Waddington School: Chung 155, Cassar 109

• Nayatt School: Cassar 317, Chung 159

• Barrington Middle School: Cassar 460, Chung 171

• Oldham School: Cassar 234, Chung 181

• Totals: Cassar 1,410, Chung 818