EAST PROVIDENCE — Though the numbers in East Providence appeared paltry when looking at the totals, the amount of voters in last week's 2024 Primary Election Tuesday, Sept. 10, was actually quite in line to the last comparable cycle in city and around the state.

Voters, like in 2020, didn't have a smorgasbord to choose from. In fact, it was quite the opposite. East Providence only had two primaries with direct ties to the city, both for the nomination of the Democratic Party for State Senate District 14 and State Representative District 64. There were also primaries in both parties, Republican included, for United States Senate.

With vote total counted by the Rhode Island State Board of Elections through September 10, incumbent State Senator Valerie Lawson's margin of victory over challenger Brian Coogan was 1,550-504, 75.5%-24.5%. In the State Rep race between candidates seeking to fill the seat being vacated by two-term incumbent Brianna Henries, Jenni Azanero Furtado was beating Ashley Pereira 520-198, 72.4%-27.6%.

Those numbers were commensurate with 2020 when the Democratic nod for the same Rep. District 64 seat was up for grabs. In an upset, Henries, who was relatively new to politics and the city, defeated one-term incumbent Joe Serodio 727-453, 61.6%-38.4%.

In the State Senate race that same year for District 18, contested between Cynthia Mendes and Billy Conley, also had similar tallies. The one huge difference was another surprise result as another newcomer Mendes defeated then four-term incumbent Conley 1,125-608, 64.9%-35.1%.

In 2020 when Lawson ran unopposed for her party's nomination and received 1,011 votes. This year, her colleague from the city, Robert Britto in District 18, also ran without opposition and garnered 733 total votes.

The figures are starkly contrasted to just 2022, though an off-year election for president it was gubernatorial/state offices cycle in Rhode Island chock full of races and voters came in numbers more than double last week. Lawson also faced an opponent two years ago, then from Megan Duckworth and fended off the challenge 2,043-1,244, 62.2%-37.8%

As a reminder, the September 10 results remain unofficial until the Board of Elections certifies the counts, which is expected to be done sometime in the coming days.

District 14 deep dive
Lawson, her party's Majority Whip in the upper chamber and primaried for a second consecutive cycle, this by the former City Councilor and State Rep Coogan, was once again appreciative of getting the opportunity to return to the General Assembly. She does not have a General Election opponent in November, neither does Azanero Furtado.

"I am very grateful to the voters of East Providence for their continued confidence in me," Lawson said Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 10. "I look forward to the opportunity to continue to advocate strongly on behalf of our community."

She added, "I am humbled and honored by the support of so many residents of our community. I have always tried to represent them to the best of my ability, and I think I have been effective at delivering results for the district. I look forward to continuing to work on their behalf.

Of the two contested races last week in city, the Lawson-Coogan matchup was the most intriguing. From the outset, when candidate papers were filed in late June, it begged the question "why?"

At least in 2022, Lawson's opponent was representative of the farther-left leaning wing of the part. Duckworth's candidacy was tied to the Rhode Island Political Cooperative (RIPC), which seems to have fizzled out a bit locally, but that buttressed both the runs of Henries and Mendes in recent elections.

This time around, Lawson entered the race as the decisive favorite, having previously won election running unopposed and with 70 and 60 percent of the vote shares. In her three terms she has risen up into the State Senate leadership. She had ample actual and monetary support. She had avoided even a scintilla of scandal, save for the Republicans alleging conflict-of-interest during her first term because the former East Providence district teacher was and remains a high-ranking officer for the National Education Association-Rhode Island.

In other words, she did not seem ripe for the challenge.

Especially from Coogan, who hadn't run for office in over a decade and who in their lone candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters-Rhode Island and the East Bay Media Group (owners of The East Providence Post and eastbayri.com) had failed to make any clear distinction or stick Lawson with any race-changing negatives.

And the tallies from the eight polling stations for the district bore those things out.

Lawson won seven handily:
Francis School — 299, 81.2%; 69, 18.8%
City View Manor — 196 , 74.2%; 68, 25.8%
St. Francis Church — 186, 64.4%; 103, 35.6%
Hennessey School — 203, 76.0%; 64, 24.0%
St. Martha's Church — 139, 80.3%; 34, 19.7%
Fuller Learning Center — 135, 91.2%; 13, 8.8%
Kent Heights School — 305, 80.3%; 75, 19.7%

Coogan's lone win occurred at Whiteknact School by the narrow count of 75, 50.7%-73, 49.3%.

As she did during the aforementioned forum, Lawson referenced her career as a teacher, including the Civics curriculum, to explain why she may have had a primary opponent," I respect the democratic process. As a former Social Studies teacher, I have taught it and believe in (the electoral process.)."

General Election notes
In the lead-up to the ⁦Tuesday, Nov. 5, General Election, the League and East Bay Media Group will host two more candidate forums for those active races.

Boylan and Wolf will gather in the Barrington Library on September 30 beginning at 5 p.m. The forum also includes races for Barrington Town Council and School Committee.

School contests are the only other locals on the ballot in East Providence and candidates for those two will gather in the East Providence City Council Chambers on October 9 at 6 p.m. Incumbent Ward 1 candidate Ryan Queenan meets Charlie Tsonos and Ward 4 incumbent Jessica Beauchaine faces Chrissy Rossi.

The public is invited to both forums and can submit questions for the candidates by email to info@lwvri.org. The East Providence forum is also available for viewing live at the East Providence City Council YouTube page. The League's site, lwvri.org, will upload video of each after the events.

Key registration dates
The League of Women Voters of Rhode Island reminds all voters about deadlines for the up-coming General Election on November 5: Voter Registration Deadline, October 6; Mail In Ballot Deadline, October 15; and Early voting begins, October 16 and continues through Election Day.

Go to www.lwvri.org for more comprehensive information, including links to the Secretary of State's office which includes sample ballots and ballot information.